The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gabriel Suswam

  • Judge withdraws from Suswam’s trial over media report

    Judge withdraws from Suswam’s trial over media report

    The judge handling the trial of former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam and the state’s ex-Finance Commissioner, Okpanachi Oklobia, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, withdrew from the case on Monday.

    Justice Mohammed withdrew from the case, citing a publication in an online media – Sahara Reporters – which he said cast him in bad light.

    Suswam and Oklobia are standing trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly diverting about N3.111billion, proceeds from sales of Benue State’s shares in some companies.

    At the last hearing of the case, prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), expressed concern that one of his witnesses had be tampered with.

    Jacobs was concerned about the sudden change of testimony by a prosecution witness, Abubakar Umar, who contradicted his earlier statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Upon request by Jacobs for time to enable him put his house in order, Justice Mohammed adjourned to June 6.

    When parties got to court on Monday, Justice Mohammed drew their attention to the publication on Sahara Reporters and sought the reaction of lawyers in the case.

    Jacobs and defence lawyers, including Joseph Daudu (SAN) urged the judge not to be bothered by a publication put out by a firm without a fixed address in the country.

     

     

  • I didn’t lay landmines for Ortom – Suswam

    I didn’t lay landmines for Ortom – Suswam

    A former Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, on Wednesday said he did not lay landmines for his successor, Governor Samuel Ortom.

    He also said his administration didn’t leave behind N140 billion debt as claimed by the governor.

    Suswam, who made the clarifications in a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Hon Terkaa Mamwoo, said a panel set up by the Benue Governor discovered that his government borrowed only N18 billion from issuance of bonds.

    The statement said: “The attention of His Excellency, Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam, former Governor of Benue State, has been drawn to a report in the media on Tuesday which quoted his successor in office, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, as accusing him of deliberately creating problems for his administration when he was about to leave government in 2015.

    “According to the report, Governor Ortom, who spoke in Makurdi on Monday, particularly blamed his predecessor for causing the problems currently confronting his administration, by allegedly looting the state’s treasury.

    “The former Governor wishes to state emphatically that his administration did not deliberately lay any landmines for the succeeding administration since his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a candidate who was hoping to take over from his administration.

    “Therefore, he couldn’t have deliberately created hurdles on the way to make the succeeding administration fail.”

    Suswam said the alleged debt of N140 billion credited to his tenure was false.

    The statement added: “The much touted N140 billion debt allegedly left behind by our administration exists only in the imagination of the Governor who has continued to use the non-existent figure as a cover up for his ineptitude and administration’s lack-lustre performance.

    “The report of the probe panel instituted by the Ortom administration even acknowledged that the Suswam administration borrowed only N18 billion from issuance of bonds, so where did Governor Ortom get the figure of N140 billion he has been peddling about?

    “It is instructive to state that the Suswam administration did not divert N107 billion as claimed by the probe panel report as the administration applied the funds accruing to the state on provision of infrastructure.”

  • Prosecution lawyer’s absence stalls Dokpesi’s trial

    Prosecution lawyer’s absence stalls Dokpesi’s trial

    … Suswam’s case stalled too

    The absence of prosecution lawyer on Thursday stalled proceedings in the trial of businessman, Raymond Dokpesi and his firm, Daar Holding and Investment Limited, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Dokpesi and his firm were arraigned before the court on February 17 on a six- count charge bordering on alleged procurement fraud and breach of public trust to the tune of N2.1 billion.

    They were said to have received N2.1billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) between October 2014 and March 2015 and diverted the money to fund the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign.

    The court had on March 2 adjourned to Thursday for commencement of trial.

    However, it was only the defendants that were represented in court on Thursday.

    Lead defence lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), drew the court’s attention to a letter from the lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), where he sought for adjournment because he was handling a case at the Supreme Court.

    Olanipekun suggested that parties be allowed to return in June, following which the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho picked June 15 for commencement of trial.

    Also, proceedings in the case involving a former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, were stalled due to the prosecution’s failure to notify the court of its intention to call a witness, who speaks Hausa.

     

  • PDP: Former governors hold reconcilliatory meeting

    PDP: Former governors hold reconcilliatory meeting

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday started a reconciliation process with former governors of the party.

    The opposition party’s reconciliation process is aimed at regaining power in 2019.

    According to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff, at a meeting with the former PDP governors, the move is to foster unity among members.

    Since the party lost control of the seat of the Federal Government in the 2015 general elections, the PDP has been trying to restructure.

    The party has embarked on a series of reconciliatory meetings since its new Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sherif assumed office.

    Present at the meeting were former Governors of Ogun state, Gbenga Daniel, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Ibrahim Shema of Kastina State, Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, and Gabriel Suswam of Benue States, as well as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

  • Bank manager fingered in stolen funds under Suswam

    Bank manager fingered in stolen funds under Suswam

    The Justice Kpojime Judicial Commission of Inquiry has directed a Former Branch Manager of Guarantee Trust Bank PLC Makurdi Miss Aguma Uloko to furnish members of the Commission with details of what she did with the N7 million she collected cash from officials of the Ministry of Finance in August last year latest Tuesday this week.

    Chairman of the Commission, Justice Elizabeth Kpojime gave the directive during the testimony of the former bank Manager who admitted that out of N168.6 million naira collected, only seventy million naira was actually signed and collected from Ministry of Finance officials.

    Members of the Commission confronted the witness with records showing that on the 11th of August last year, one Abel Musa, a staff of Guarantee Trust Bank signed and collected N16 million cash on Miss Uloko’s behalf.

    Also, on the 7th of August last year, the same staff Abel Musa signed and collected N8 million while on September 3 last year, records showed that the branch manager signed and collected N118.8 million from the Ministry of Finance officials for lodgment in the Ministry’s account with the bank.

    Miss Uloko however insisted that she signed acknowledgement for receipt of only N70 million naira which she failed to show to the Commission or any record where she deposited the money and asked for more time to do so.

    The witness further explained that she resigned from the Bank on the 4th of May last year after 10 years of service, saying any staff who claimed to have collected money on her behalf was lying.

    She however admitted that she used to visit the Ministry of Finance to collect cash for deposit at the Bank and also managed the accounts of former Finance Commissioner and other Senior Staff.

    Our correspondent reports that the witness was accompanied to the commission by a counsel to defend her.

  • N3.1b fraud: Court orders Suswam’s remand

    N3.1b fraud: Court orders Suswam’s remand

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the remand of former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam in the EFCC custody pending perfection of his bail conditions.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the remand of Suswam and his ex-Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, while ruling on a bail application, moved by Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, counsel to the defendants.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Suswam and Okolobia were arraigned before the court on a nine-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and money laundering.

    The two respondents pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them by the court registrar.

    Prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, SAN, did not oppose the bail application of the defendants on the ground that they had been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had not jumped bail.

    Justice Mohammed held: “The respondents are granted bail in the sum of N100 million each and a surety each in like sum.

    “The surety must be a civil servant of not less than the cadre of Director in the federal, state or local government service.

    “In the alternative, the surety must have a national honour and must swear to an affidavit of means.

    “The defendants shall submit their international passport to the registrar of the court.

    “Failure to meet these requirements, the defendants shall be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.’’

    Suswam and Okolobia were charged by the EFCC for alleged diversion of a total sum of N3.1 billion, realised from the sale of shares owned by Benue State Government and Benue Investments and Property Ltd.

    Justice Mohammed adjourned the case till Dec. 8 for trial.

  • Money laundering: EFCC fails to arraign Suswam

    Money laundering: EFCC fails to arraign Suswam

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to arraign former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, who is facing money laundering and corruption charges, on Wednesday.

    The EFCC had on Tuesday announced its intention to arraign Suswam before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Suswam and his former finance commissioner, Omodachi Okolobia were alleged to have diverted the proceeds of sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government and Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.

    The offence is punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 20111 as amended in 2012.

    One of EFCC lawyers, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), was later sighted in court on Wednesday.

    The lawyer said he was unsure if the case was assigned to any judge.

  • Benue people want Suswam probed – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday maintained that the people of his state want thorough investigation of activities under former governor Gabriel Suswam.

    Suswam has gone to court in attempt to halt the probe of his administration.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, Ortom said it was the desire of the people to know how the commonwealth of the state was spent, especially as the current administration in the state met empty treasury.

    He said: “I am handling the matter in a legitimate manner. It has to do with the rule of law and due process. I set up two panels, one judicial panel to verify the income expenditure from 2007 to 2015 and also a panel to verify the assets of government, so that we can get things in the right perspective.

    “I met a deficit treasury and the people of Benue State want to know what happened with their money, what happened with the SURE-P money, what went wrong with the excess crude money that came to Benue State, what went wrong with the shares of government in various corporations that were sold, where did the money go? These are questions that are begging for answer, which the people of Benue State told me to verify and am doing that.”

    “My predecessor went to court and stopped the process with an injunction and we have also made our facts known to the court and we are waiting for a judgment on the 9th. But after verification I believe that I will ensure due process in handling the matter.”

    He, however, said that his discussion with the President has nothing to do with Suswam’s case.

     

  • Update: EFCC arrests, grills Suswam

    Update: EFCC arrests, grills Suswam

    Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, was on Monday arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged massive corruption during his tenure as governor of the north central state.

    Suswam is alleged to have made away with state funds running into billions of naira and is expected to defend himself against the charges.

    The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwajuren,  who confirmed Suswam’s  arrest, said the ex-governor is being quizzed by the anti-graft agency.

    “He was invited by the EFCC in connection with ongoing corruption investigation in Benue State,” he said.

     

     

  • Benue: I am not afraid of probe – Suswam

    Benue: I am not afraid of probe – Suswam

    A former Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, on Thursday said he is not afraid of the ongoing probe of his administration by Governor Samuel Ortom.

    He said the probe may set bad precedent in the state and no one knows whose turn is next.

    He also said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost Benue State in the last general election because the party took many things for granted.

    Suswam broke his silence during a solidarity visit to him and his wife, Mrs. Yemisi Doorshima in Abuja by 17 PDP leaders.

    The ex-governor said he did not probe his predecessor and warned against setting a ‘bad precedent’ in the state.

    He said:  “On the probe going on in Benue State, it is not that one is afraid but once a precedent is set, it is a double-edge sword. You don’t know whose turn it is tomorrow, you don’t know tomorrow.

    “When I became the governor of Benue State, I met some issues on ground but I resolved it amicably. When there are issues, let us talk about it amicably instead of grandstanding. This remains my approach to life but to go and do grandstanding. I encourage us in Benue to toe the path of peace.

    In spite of criticisms, Suswam however gave himself a pass mark in office.

    He added: “What we want is a better Benue. I moved Benue State forward, I hope the next administration will build on the developmental strides we achieved. We want peace in our state, we don’t want violence.”

    [ad id=”403656″]The former governor said although it was regretful that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost Benue State, he said God created the situation so that the party can learn.

    He said: “After a long period of time, if you are used to winning all the time, you begin to take things for granted. We lost election because we took a lot of things for granted.

    “There were many issues we did not attend to on time. We have experienced something which has resulted in ‘had we known.’ That is why we are now at the receiving end.

    “But God creates this kind of situation so that we can learn. When God called Moses, it came with fire. What happened to us is God talking to us.

    “The PDP is still intact in Benue, the elders are intact and that is why they have come to meet with me, the opposition leader. And it comes with a lot of pain.”

    The representative of the elders, Dr. Laha Dzever, said: “While you were away, on the political side, we heard so many issues concerning probe. Those things did not bother us because we knew what you did, we knew what late Governors Aper Aku and Moses Adasu, and others did.”