The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Omadachi Oklobia

  • N3.1bn fraud: Absence of second defendant stalls Suswam’s trial

    N3.1bn fraud: Absence of second defendant stalls Suswam’s trial

    The trial of former Benue governor, Mr Gabriel Suswam, was on Wednesday stalled at the Federal High Court, Abuja, due to absence of the second defendant, Omadachi Oklobia.

    Suswam and Oklobia are standing trial before Justice Ahmed Mohammed on allegations of fraud and money laundering.

    But, the court was informed that Oklobia could not be at Wednesday’s proceeding because he was in Kuje prison on a remand ordered on Monday by another high court in Abuja.

    Both defendants are also facing trial before Justice Gabriel Kolawale on a 32-count charge bordering on fraud.

    When they appeared before Kolawale on Monday, they were granted bail, but while Suswam perfected his bail conditions and had freedom, Oklobia has not been able to do so.

    “My client was remanded on Monday.

    “He was granted bail, but he has yet to perfect his bail conditions because one of the sureties we procured for him was rejected,” Oklobia’s counsel, Mr A.I Samson, told the court.

    Samson therefore prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the defence to perfect his client’s bail conditions so that he would be free to attend trial.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mr A.O Atolagbe, did not oppose the application for adjournment, but prayed the court to fix a day for the case before proceeding on vacation.

    The judge, however, adjourned the matter until Sept. 28 since there was no free date in the court’s calendar before the vacation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Suswam and Oklobia are being jointly tried in two separate matters before two judges in the Federal High Court.

    The matter before Justice Mohammed involves a nine-count charge bordering on laundering of about N3.1 billion, while the 32-count charge matter is before Justice Kolawale and involves fraud and diversion of funds.

  • Suswam rejects transfer of trial to Benue

    Suswam rejects transfer of trial to Benue

    A former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, and two of his former aides on Monday rejected Federal Government’s proposal to transfer their trial from Abuja to Benue.

    The former governor and his aides are standing trial for allegedly diverting the state’s N9.79 billion.

    The affected aides are – former commissioner in the state, Mr. Omadachi Oklobia, and the former Accountant in Benue State Government House, Mrs. Janet Aluga.

    The fund, according to the prosecution, was earmarked for police reform and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

    The SUEE-P was introduced by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration following the removal of fuel subsidy in 2012.

    The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiracy, conversion of property derived directly from corruption, collaboration to conceal property derived from corruption, obtaining by false pretence and accepting cash payments exceeding the amount authorised by law.

    The offences, according to the prosecution, were committed between 2012 and 2015.

  • 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.

  • 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.

     

  • 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.