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Tag: Gabriel Suswam

  • 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.

     

  • Alleged fraud: Suswam’s health stalls trial

    Alleged fraud: Suswam’s health stalls trial

    The trial of former Governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswam, over alleged financial misappropriation before the Federal High Court, Abuja, was on Tuesday stalled on the ground of his ill health.
    Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Oklobia, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a nine- count charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion.
    They were alleged to have diverted proceeds of the sale of shares owed by Benue Government and Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
    The offence, the EFCC said was punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.
    At the resumed trial before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, counsel to Suswam, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN) informed the court that his client was currently on admission in an Abuja hospital.
    According to Raji, following the detention of his client by the Department of State Services(DSS), and his release by the same authority, he took ill and is now on admission.
    Raji showed a copy of the medical report from the hospital ,where Suswam was admitted, to the prosecuting counsel, Mr A.O. Atolagbe and the court.
    He prayed the court for an adjournment to allow his client get the required medical treatment to enable him attend to his trial.
    The prosecutor raised no objection to the application for an adjournment.
    “I was informed this morning about the ill health of the first defendant, but I am yet to see the copy of his medical report.
    “I can, however, now confirm that I have seen the medical report,” he said.
    The judge adjourned the matter until June 21 and June 22.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Suswam’s case was on March 28, stalled because of his detention by the DSS.
    His counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN), had told the court that he was absent in court on that day on account of his detention.

  • PDP seeks release of Lamido, Suswam, Aliyu

    PDP seeks release of Lamido, Suswam, Aliyu

    The Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded the immediate release of the former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido.

    Lamido was arrested and detained by the police in Kano on Sunday for allegedly making inciting statement regarding the forthcoming local government election in the state.

    The PDP faction also demanded the release of Mr. Gabriel Suswam and Babangida Aliyu, former Governors of Benue and Niger States respectively, who are also being detained.

    A statement issued on Monday by the spokesman of the Makarfi camp, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, demanded the unconditional release of the three former governors and other political detainees.

    Describing the arrest and detention of Lamido as unwarranted, outrageous and anti-democratic, the opposition said the allegation against the ex- governor was frivolous.

    The statement reads: “The true reason for his arrest however, has to do with the forthcoming local government election in Jigawa State. The long incarceration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam is also linked to the forthcoming local government election in Benue State.

    “The APC led administration is fast losing the confidence of the people because of its non-performance, high handedness and lack of empathy for the suffering of the people.

    “The only option left for it is to prevent the opposition from effectively campaigning and mobilizing the people for the elections. The whole strategy of the failed APC government is founded on the assumption that if there is no opposition, then they cannot be defeated.

    “Hence the intimidation, harassment and incarceration of popular opposition leaders like Sule Lamido. We are aware that, we in the opposition will be in for a hard time in the run-up to the 2019 general elections with more arrests and intimidation of our prominent leaders.”

    The party recalled what it described as inciting statements made by President Muhammadu Buhari shortly before the 2011 general elections, which resulted in bloodshed after the poll; but for which Buhari was not arrested by the then PDP-controlled federal government.

    It also recalled Buhari’s statement shortly before the 2015 general elections, where he threatened a repeat of the 2011 post- election violence by vowing that the “dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.”

    “For this statement and others as well, he was never invited, arrested or detained by any of the security agencies under the PDP administration. It was not a sign of weakness by the PDP led government. It was in deference to freedom of speech, democracy and peace.

    “The APC has today unleashed the Nigerian Police, the DSS and the EFCC to harass and intimidate judges, opposition leaders, social media influencers/bloggers and other Nigerians that speak against the APC -led federal or state governments on fabricated charges just to cow them.

    “Governor Lamido merely asked the people to defend their votes against rigging. How is that a crime? If you are not planning to steal the peoples’ votes, why should you be afraid if the people are advised to defend their votes? Of course, no thief would want the owner to guide his house against burglary.

    “The excesses of the security agencies have now reached alarming proportions. If they must be reminded, their mandate is to defend all Nigerians and not to act as a willing instrument of oppression of the people by the autocratic APC government,” the statement added.

     

  • Court orders DSS to produce Suswam for arraignment

    Court orders DSS to produce Suswam for arraignment

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to produce former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam in court on May 11 for his arraignment.

    The Federal Government had accused Suswam and two others of diverting N9.7 billion being part of funds from the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme.

    The fund was allegedly diverted between 2012 and 2015 while Suswam was the governor of the state.

    The other defendants facing the 32-count charge are the former Commissioner of Finance, Mr Omadachi Oklobia and former Accountant, Benue State Government House, Mrs Janet Aluga.

    The arraignment was, however, stalled following Suswam’s absence in court.

    Suswam and Oklobia are also standing trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on different matter bordering on embezzlement of state funds.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Suswam is currently in the custody of the DSS over another matter bordering on an allegation of illegal arms possession.

    Mr Aminu Alilu, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that Suswam could not be served with the charge because he (Suswam) was being held by the DSS.

    “Efforts to serve him in accordance with Section 2 (3) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act failed, therefore we served his counsel in compliance with Section 379 (3) of the ACJA, instead,” he said

    Alilu further said the prosecution also made futile attempt to serve the ex-governor through the DSS.

    “We have a letter to that effect and the acknowledged copy by the office of the DSS,’’ he said.

    Mr Adedayo Adedeji, counsel to Suswam on other matters, said the prosecution misled the court to submit that Suswan refused to be served.

    “Tuesday at about 3: p.m. two officers from the police walked into our office, seeking to serve Suswam, but because of respect for this court, we received it.

    “Our objection is that being an originating summons, the first defendant ought to have been served personally.

    “The fact that we are representing him in another matter does not mean that we must represent him in all of his cases. We were never briefed by Suswam to represent him in this case.

    “It cannot now be correct to say that Suswan refused to be served, we submit that in the absence of the first defendant, this matter cannot go on,” he said.

    The judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, therefore, instructed the DSS to ensure Suswam was present in court in the next adjourned date.

    The judge ordered that Oklobia and Aluga should still enjoy their administrative bail

    Justice Kolawole subsequently adjourned the matter till May 11 for the arraignment of the defendants.

  • DSS refuses to produce Suswam in trial by EFCC

    DSS refuses to produce Suswam in trial by EFCC

    The failure by the Department of State Service (DSS) to produce former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam stalled proceedings in his trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja Tuesday.

    Suswan and Omadachi Oklobia (who served as Finance Commissioner in Suwam’s government) are being triedby the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting N3.1billion belonging to Benue State Government.

    They are, among others, accused of diverting proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue Government and Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, for their personal uses.

    The case was fixed for Tuesday for the continuation of the prosecution’s case. But at the commencement of proceedings, prosecuting lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe drew the court’s attention to Suwam’s absence in court.

    He noted that Suswam was on bail and wondered why he was absent, but said his (Suswam’s) lawyer should be allowed to explain his absence.

    Suswam’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) said his client’s absence was not out of disrespect to the court, but to no fault of his.

    Daudu said Suswam was invited by the DSS on February 24 this year. And that since then, he has been kept in detention without charge.

    He said no effort has been made by the DSS to take him (Suswam) to court in respect of whatever allegation they may have against him.

    Daudu said: “The 1st defendant (Suswam) is being prosecuted by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in this case. The last place he was seen is in the custody of an agency of the FGN, the DSS.

    “So, if the prosecution is not aware, I am, by this statement from the Bar, making him to be aware, so that he can enquire why the 1st defendant is being kept by the DSS.

    “We do not know what has happened to him. We do not know why he is being kept. We want to say his absence is not out of his disrespect to this court. His absence is not wilful or deliberate,” Daudu said.

    Responding, Atolagbe said the agency prosecuting Suswam in this case was the EFCC, which is different from the DSS, which currently is holding him.

    Atolagbe added that “they are two different agencies entirely.” He however, agreed to Daudu’s observation that there was need for an adjournment in view of Suswam’s absence.

    Ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed noted that the case, being a criminal matter, could not proceed in the absence of the 1st defendant. He adjourned to May 9 for continuation of trial.

     

  • DSS refuses to produce Suswam in trial by EFCC

    DSS refuses to produce Suswam in trial by EFCC

    The failure by the Department of State Service (DSS) to produce former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam stalled proceedings in his trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
    Suswan and Omadachi Oklobia (who served as Finance Commissioner in Suwam’s government) are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting N3.1billion belonging to Benue State Government.
    They are, among others, accused of diverting proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue Government and Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, for their personal uses.
    The case was fixed for Tuesday for the continuation of the prosecution’s case. But at the commencement of proceedings, prosecuting lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe drew the court’s attention to Suwam’s absence in court.
    He noted that Suswam was on bail and wondered why he was absent, but said his (Suswam’s)  lawyer should be allowed to explain his absence.
    Suswam’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) said his client’s absence was not out of disrespect to the court, but  to no fault of his.
    Daudu said Suswam was invited by the DSS on February 24 this year, and that since then, he has been kept in detention without charge.
    He said no effort has been made by the DSS to take him (Suswam) to court in respect of whatever allegation they may have against him.
    Daudu said: “The 1st defendant (Suswam) is being prosecuted by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in this case. The last place he was seen is in the custody of an agency of the FGN, the DSS.
    “So, if the prosecution is not aware, I am, by this statement from the Bar, making him to be aware, so that he can enquire why the 1st defendant is being kept by the DSS.
    “We do not know what has happened to him. We do not know why he is being kept. We want to say his absence is not out of his disrespect to this court. His absence is not wilful or deliberate,” Daudu said.
    Responding, Atolagbe said the agency prosecuting Suswam in this case was the EFCC, which is different from the DSS, which currently is holding him.
    Atolagbe added that “they are two different agencies entirely.” He however, agreed to Daudu’s observation that there was need for an adjournment in view of Suswam’s absence.
    Ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed noted that the case, being a criminal matter, could not proceed in the absence of the 1st defendant. He adjourned to May 9 for continuation of trial.
  • SURE-P: FG files charges against Suswam, two others

    SURE-P: FG files charges against Suswam, two others

    The Federal Government has accused former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam and two others of diverting about N10billion meant for the SURE-P programme initiated by ex- President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    The accusation is contained in two fresh charges filed against Suswam, Omadachi Oklobia and Mrs. Janet Aluga at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Oklobia was the Finance Commissioner and Aluga the Accountant at the Benue State Government House during Suswam’s administration.

    In the first of the five charges listed in a charge sheet marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/255/2015, they were accused of unlawfully transferring the fund from the Benue State SURE-P account numbers: 1013470079 and 0116099195 domiciled in Zenith and Guaranty Trust banks.

    In the second charge of four counts, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/256/2016, they were accused of unlawfully taking possession of the said fund.

    When the charges were mention on Wednesday before Justice Gabriel Kolawole, the defendants were absent in court.

    Lead prosecution lawyer, David Igbodo, told the court that the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, who authorised the filing of the charges, has resolved to work with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in the prosecution of the case.

    Igbodo said the IGP has directed that the case file be forwarded to the AGF for his contributions.

     

  • I didn’t mismanage Benue funds – Suswam

    I didn’t mismanage Benue funds – Suswam

    Ex-Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Monday dismissed claims that he misappropriated funds accrued to the state during his tenure as governor between 2007 and 2015.

    Suswam, who spoke during a thanksgiving service organized in his honour by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Benue North West Senatorial District (Zone B), at St Vincent Catholic Church Iorwar, Aliade, Benue State, said he did what was right for the people during his administration.

    He said, “I did what a good and caring governor should do for his people while I was governor in Benue State  and that is why I haven’t been found wanting by anyone up till now except for those sponsoring media attacks against my person.

    “As far as I am concerned, I didn’t mismanage a dime out of all the funds realized by the state under my watch as governor.”

    Suswam is being accused of looting state funds while in office, the latest being $24 million accrued to the state as debt refunds from the Paris and London clubs.

  • Convention: PDP to screen 57 aspirants

    The  Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention Screening Committee, Gabriel Suswam, has said the committee will screen 57 aspirants jostling for various positions in the party.

    Suswam, a former Governor of Benue State, stated this at the commencement of the screening exercise on Monday in Port Harcourt.

    The PDP national convention is expected to take place on Wednesday in the oil city.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports that the committee has screened the PDP former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George; a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; the Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and other aspirants vying  for the position of national chairman.