The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on Wednesday called more witnesses in it’s case against former governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam.
Suswam, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia are facing 11-count amended charges of money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion, being part of the proceeds from the sales of Benue state government’s shares in Dangote Cement PLC, held on its behalf by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited,BIPC, sold through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited sometime in 2014.
When the matter came up at the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, the EFCC called its seventh witness, Mustapha Yusuf Abubakar, a staff of the anti-graft agency who was also part of the EFCC team that investigated the matter.
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Mustapha Abubakar who was led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, tendered a portfolio agreement notice of appointment as stock brokers with Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited, by the then Board of Benue Investment and Property Company(BIPC).
The portfolio agreement was signed by the second defendant, Omadachi Oklobia as the commissioner for Finance, Benue State.
While under cross examination from counsel to Oklobia, Paul Erokoro(SAN), the witness disclosed that Mr Oklobia collected the sum of N350 million in two trenches of N200 million and N150 million and handed the money to the then Chief Security Officer to the Governor, identified as ‘Manga’, who also signed for the receipts of the money at Benue State Government House in Makurdi, because there was no other government official to sign.
According to him, during interrogation, Oklobia explained that it was the first defendant, Gabriel Suswam, that directed him to collect the money from one James Gara, who cashed the money.
The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu adjourned the matter to Thursday, November 7th, 2024, for continuation of cross examination of the seventh witness of the EFCC and for the commission to call it’s eight witness.
