Ex-Benue governor's fraud trial resumes

The trial of Gabriel Suswan, former governor
of Benue State, is set to continue the Federal High
Court Abuja this morning.
He is under probe alongside his then-Commissioner of
Finance, Okolobia Okpanachi.
Suswan and Okolobia are facing a nine-count charge
bordering on diversion of N3,1 billion during his
tenure as governor.
He was governor from 2007 to 2015.
On Monday, a prosecution witness, Brijid Shiedie,
managing director and chief executive officer, Benue
Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPCL),
told Justice Mohammed of , how the sum of N1bn
was allegedly paid to Elixir Security Limited, after a
meeting with Okpanachi.
At the hearing, led in evidence by prosecuting
counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, she further told the court
Elixir was invited by the state government to carry
out a check of where the state’s shares were
domiciled and consolidate them in one stock- broking
firm.
She added that the state government consequently
needed BIPCL, as the custodian of the shares, to
sign, in order to enable Elixir achieve the mandate of
consolidating the shares.
The witness also told the court both Suswan and
Okpanachi directed BIPCL to pay Elixir the proceeds
of Benue State shares, into two accounts, provided
by the ministry of finance letter head.
However, she said that no specific amount was
indicated in the correspondence.
The defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, asked for an
adjournment to enable him cross-examine the
witness, saying she was crucial to the case.