Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, for alleged money laundering till January 20, 2026, for adoption of final written address.
The judge adjourned the matter after Suswam and the former Commissioner for Finance in Benue State, Omodachi Okolobia, closed their defence in the trial
He gave the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 14 days to file and serve their final written address.
He also gave the defendants 14 days to respond upon service before adjournment.
The commission arraigned Suswam and Okolobia on an 11-count amended charge of money laundering.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants misappropriated N3.1 billion said to be part of proceeds from the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
The transactions were allegedly carried out through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
The EFCC closed its case after calling nine witnesses.
But instead of the defendants to open their defence, they opted for a no-case-submission and argued that they did not have a case to answer on the alleged diversion of the public funds.
Justice Lifu, however, in a ruling on July 23, dismissed the no-case submission filed by Suswam and his co-defendant and ordered them to open their defence.
According to the judge, the totality of evidence the commission adduced before the court established a prima facie case that warranted an explanation from the defendants.
He held that the no-case submission lacked merit.
