The Nation Newspaper

Tag: former Benue State governor

  • APC Senatorial Primary: Shehu Sani, Akpabio, Yari, Uduaghan cleared unopposed

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared unopposed former Akwa Ibom and Delta State Governors, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Dr, Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani as Senatorial candidates for the forthcoming general elections.

    Also cleared unopposed are Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, former Sokoto state Governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako, former Benue state Governor, George Akume and former National, Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Adebayo Adeyeye.

    Also, the three senators representing Lagos state, Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Solomon Adeola and Gbenga Ashafa as well as Senator Ajayi Boroface, Yele Onogunwa and Omotoyao Alasoadura from Ondo are flying the party flag unopposed as they emerged the only cleared aspirants from their states.

    Senator Ahmed Abubakar, Senator Binta Masi Garba (Adamawa) Senator Yusuf Abubakar (Taraba), Governor Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Senator Tijanni Kaura, Ikra Bilbis (Zamfara), Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo), Senator Andy Uba (Anambra) and Suleiman Abdu Kwari (Kaduna) are also running unopposed.

    In the list of cleared aspirants released by the National Working Committee and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, former Kano state Governor is to battle for the Kano Central Senatorial ticket with Hajia Laila Buhari, while Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun is to struggle for the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket with Senator Adeyemi Tejuosho and Ganiyat Oladunjoye.

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is to contest for the Oyo Central Senatorial district ticket with Senator Taslim Folarin and five others, Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura is to slug it out for the Nasarawa south ticket with Senator Salihu Hussein Egye, while Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima is contesting the Borno Central ticket with Ali Bukar Wurge.
    Also, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan is contesting the Yobe North Senatorial ticket with Mohammed Lawan Yahuza, while Imo state Governor; Rochas Okorocha is listed as contesting the Imo West ticket with Senator Hope Uzodinma who is also contesting the governorship of the state.

    However, two former governors who have been in the senate for a long time, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima of Zamfara State and Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe) were conspicuously missing on the list and it was not clear whether they were screened out of the contest or decided not to return to the Senate.
    The National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said at different fora that it will be ungodly for the party not to reward loyal senators who stood by the party in its trying period, resisting all attempt to lure them away from the APC.

  • Suswam arraigned on third charge, gets 500m bail

    Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam was arraigned on Friday before the Federal High Court, Abuja on a three-count charge of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.

    Suswam is, in the charge filed by the Federal Government on June 26 this year, accused illegally concealing weapons in his Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic car with Registration No: BWR 135 AH at parked at Dunes Investment and Properties Ltd, No. 44 Aguiyi lronsi Way, Maitama, Abuja,

    He is also accused of “converting 25 designer wrist watches worth several millions of naira being properties you derived directly from corruption and concealed in your Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic with Registration No BWR 135 AH.”

    Read Also:Benue PDP demands release of former Governor Suswam

    The ex-Governor was also accused of being in possession of “one(l) Gloek Pistol with Serial Number KML 275, one (1) Mini rifle with Serial Number 54976 and One(l) AK 47 with Serial Number 5622620063, which weapons were concealed in your Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic car with Registration No: BWR 135 AH.”

    Suswam pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him on Friday before Justice Babatunde Quadri.

    The latest charge brings to three the number of criminal charges now pending against Suswam before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The ex-Governor is accused of diverting proceeds of the sale of Benue State’s investment in some companies. The case is pending before Justice Ahmed Mohammed.

    He is, in the second charge, accused of diverting funds meant for SURE P projects in the state. The case was pending before Justice Gabriel Kolawole before the judge’s recent elevation to the Court of Appeal. The case is expected to be reassigned to a new judge.

    After his arraignment on Friday, prosecution lawyer, Abubakar Kayode Alilu sought a date for the commencement of trial. He urged the court order that the defendant be remanded in prison.

    Suswam’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN) informed the court about his client’s pending bail application.

    Erokoro moved the application, which Justice Quadri granted. The judge admitted Suswam to bail at N500 million and one surety at the same amount.

    The Judge said the surety, who must be a residence of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), should swear to an affidavit of means, following which the surety’s residential address is to be verified by officials of the court.

    The judge adjourned to October 24 this year for the commencement of trial.

  • Alleged N9.79bn fraud: Court rejects request for bench warrant on Suswam

    Alleged N9.79bn fraud: Court rejects request for bench warrant on Suswam

    …Warns him against further absence

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja Thursday rejected a request for the issuance of bench warrant against former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam.

    Instead, Justice Gabrial Kolawole, in a ruling, warned Suswam not to push the court to a state where it will resort to compelling him to attend court.

    The office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), on March 27 this year, filed a 32-count charge against Suswam and two others, accusing them of diverting N9,791,602,453.8, part of which was meant for police reform and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

    The others are the Finance Commissioner during Suswam’s regime, Omadachi Oklobia and former Accountant, Benue State Government House Administration, Mrs. Janet Aluga.

    They were to be arraigned on the new charge on April 11, but for the absence of Suswam, who was by then, in the custody of the Department for State Services (DSS).

    The development prompted Justice Kolawole to order the DSS to produce him (Suswam) on the next date and adjourned to May 11.

    The DSS however, released Suswam on May 7, and he was expected to attend court yesterday having attended court on Wednesday (May 10) when his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) withdrew the N10b rights enforcement suit he filed against the DSS, which Justice Kolawole struck out.

    But, at the commencement of proceedings Thursday, Suswam was not in court.

    Oklobia and Mrs. Aluga were present, prompting Justice Kolawole to ask the ex-governor’s lawyer, Miss C.E Ogbuozor why her client was not in court.

    Miss Ogbuozor said Suswam has been admitted in a hospital for hypertension related ailment, which allegedly arose due to his prolonged the custody of the DSS.

    She said, “After his release from the custody of the SSS (DSS), he met with us, his lawyers and explained to us that, owing to his detention, he has been unable to keep up with his medical checks or take his medication for a hypertensive medical condition, which he had.

    “Having stayed in detention for over 70 days, he proceeded to see his doctors, who after due examination advised that he be placed on bed rest and subject to his doctor’s observation.

    “We have also been issued with a report, which we have furnished the prosecution this morning. Out of respect for this court, the lead counsel, Mr. J.B Daudu (SAN) had to bring the first defendant to court yesterday (Wednesday) for his civil matter.

    “Today (Thursday) we made effort to secure his attendance in court this morning, but unfortunately, his doctors would not oblige us.

    “In view of the foregoing, we sincerely crave the indulgence of the court for an adjournment to enable the first defendant to attend his trial to take his plea and to also prepare on the appropriate plea on each of the 32 counts which we confirmed were duly served on him personally on May 8, 2017 following the orders of this court,” she said.

    Prosecuting lawyer, Aminu Alilu said he was not served with any medical report from the defence.

    Aminu said: “I have not seen or sighted any medical report as explained by my learned friend. In view of that, I believe that the first defendant is in breach of the order of court to appear today.

    “If the first defendant was strong enough to come to court out of respect for the court, the same respect should have been extended till today to take his plea.

    “His presence in court yesterday (Wednesday) showed that the condition is not as complicated as the counsel presented it.

    “We urge your lordship to invoking section 131 of the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Act, by which my Lord is empowered to issue a warrant of arrest on the first defendant, and we so pray.

    “But, we are not opposed to the adjournment since the arraignment cannot go on today in the absence of the first defendant,” Alilu said.

    Lawyers to the other defendants, F.R Onoja (for Oklobia) and Innocent Da’agba (for Aluga) agreed with Miss Ogbuozor and prayed the court not to grant Alilu’s request for bench warrant against Suswam, but to give him (Suswam) the benefit of the doubt.

    When a copy of Suswam’s medical report was later extended to him, Alilu faulted the document and insisted that the situation requires that a warrant of arrest should be issued against the defendant.

    Alilu said, “I just saw the medical report tendered by the first defendant. They said the report was from a private hospital and there ought to be an affidavit by the doctor, who signed it, informing the this honourable court, on oath, the ailment of the first defendant stated on the medical report.”

    Ruling, Justice Kolawole observed that Suswam actually attended court the previous day.

    The judge however, faulted Alilu’s argument, noting that he did not support with any judicial authority his argument that a medical report issued by a private hospital, as against a government hospital, must be backed with a supporting affidavit deposed to by the doctor, who signed it.

    Justice Kolawole said Alilu’s argument will not prevent the court from accepting the medical report, which is dated May 10, 2017.

    He was of the view that the report, having been issued by a private hospital, it could only be affected by the weight to be attached to it, even though sometimes government’s hospitals too “issue medical reports on abridged considerations”.

    The judge warned Suswam against being absent in subsequent proceedings, and adjourned to June 19 for arraignment.

     

  • Court strikes out Suswam N10bn suit against DSS, AGF

    Court strikes out Suswam N10bn suit against DSS, AGF

    ..To be arraigned Thursday

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N10billion suit filed by former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam against the Department of State Services, its Director-General, Lawal Daura and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole in a ruling Wednesday, said he would strike the suit out because of an application by Suswam’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) for the withdrawal of the suit.

    Suswam had filed the suit, a fundamental rights enforcement suit, shortly after he was arrested on February 25, 2017.

    He was released from the custody of the DSS on May 7 after spending about 70 days in detention, was present in court on Wednesday.

    Suswam, who is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Ahmed Mohammed (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja), was absent in court on Tuesday when the case came up.

    Although his co-defendant, Omadachi Oklobia (Finance Commissioner under Suswam) was in court, Suswam was said to be indisposed.They are being tried for allegedly diverting Benue state’s funds estimated at over N3b.

    The office of the AGF also, on March 27 filed a 32-count charge against Suswam and the two others, accusing them of diverting the sum of N9,791,602,453.8, part of which was meant for police reform and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

    Also named in the charge are Oklobia, and former Accountant, Benue State Government House Administration, Mrs. Janet Aluga.

    They were to be arraigbed on the new charge on April 11, but for the absence of Suswam, who was by then, in the custody of the DSS.

    The development prompted Justice Kolawole to order the DSS to ptoduce him on the next date and adjourned to May 11.

    It is not clear if Suswam, said to be indisposed, will attend court today on his own, since the DSS that the judge ordered to produce him has released him.