Former Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam’s Trial Adjourned Till March 22
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has postponed the trial of Dr. Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue state to March 22, 2016. The ex-governor and two others are facing trial over alleged 3.1 billion brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC).
At the resumed trial on Wednesday, a witness, Aluyi Victor, who is a portfolio manager with Elixir Investment Company Limited, told Justice Ahmed Mohammed that Governor Suswam had ordered him to pay the sum of N3.1billion from the proceeds of the sales of the Benue state shares to a personal account belonging to a Bureau de Change.
The witness who was brought by the EFCC, told the court that it was later discovered that after carrying out a private investigation that the account where the money was paid belonged to a Bureau de change.
Victor said that his company received a verbal instructions to sell the Benue State government shares from Suswam through his then Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia.
“After the sale was completed, we realised the total sum of N9.4Billion. “The money was subsequently paid out into three bank accounts following the instructions we received from the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
“N1billion was paid into Benue Investment and Property company bank account; N5.3Billion was paid to the Ministry of Finance account, while the remaining N3.1billion was paid into the account which after our investigation; we discovered belonged to a Bureau De Change,” he said.
Victor further alleged that after he discovered that the third account does not belong to the Benue State government, he raised the observation.
He was however told that the account belonged to Fanffash Resources, the state ministry of account project account.
After the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob (SAN), handed the letter authorizing the payment into a private firm account, to the Judge as exhibit, the judge adjourned the matter to March 22, 2016 for continuation of trial.
At the resumed trial on Wednesday, a witness, Aluyi Victor, who is a portfolio manager with Elixir Investment Company Limited, told Justice Ahmed Mohammed that Governor Suswam had ordered him to pay the sum of N3.1billion from the proceeds of the sales of the Benue state shares to a personal account belonging to a Bureau de Change.
The witness who was brought by the EFCC, told the court that it was later discovered that after carrying out a private investigation that the account where the money was paid belonged to a Bureau de change.
Victor said that his company received a verbal instructions to sell the Benue State government shares from Suswam through his then Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia.
“After the sale was completed, we realised the total sum of N9.4Billion. “The money was subsequently paid out into three bank accounts following the instructions we received from the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
“N1billion was paid into Benue Investment and Property company bank account; N5.3Billion was paid to the Ministry of Finance account, while the remaining N3.1billion was paid into the account which after our investigation; we discovered belonged to a Bureau De Change,” he said.
Victor further alleged that after he discovered that the third account does not belong to the Benue State government, he raised the observation.
He was however told that the account belonged to Fanffash Resources, the state ministry of account project account.
After the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob (SAN), handed the letter authorizing the payment into a private firm account, to the Judge as exhibit, the judge adjourned the matter to March 22, 2016 for continuation of trial.
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