The parties were not in court. That is why the Suswam trial, called at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 30, went nowhere. Justice Peter Lifu moved the matter to July 16, 2026, the new date for both sides to adopt their final written addresses.
The case had already been pushed once to reach June 30. Tribune Online reported that the failure of the parties to appear forced the judge to reschedule, and that the defence had by then closed its case.
What the charge says
Gabriel Suswam, who governed Benue State from 2007 to 2015, is on trial with Omadachi Okolobia, his former Commissioner for Finance. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting. It says the case concerns N3.1 billion from the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government. TheNigeriaLawyer and Naija News describe an amended 11-count charge covering alleged theft, criminal breach of trust, illegal award of contracts and money laundering. Tribune described the 11 counts as money laundering.
The commission alleges the money was diverted through two firms, Elixir Securities Ltd and Elixir Investment Partners Limited, between 8 August and 30 October 2014 in Abuja. A separate allegation in the amended charge of 2 November 2020 says Okolobia transacted a total of N578 million in four tranches, above the cash transaction limit under the money laundering law, between December 2014 and January 2015.
Both men pleaded not guilty when they were re-arraigned before Justice Lifu in March 2024, according to Tribune.
A trial that has outlived several judges
The two men were first arraigned in November 2015. Since then the file has passed from Justice Ahmed Mohammed to Justice Okon Abang, back to Justice Mohammed after a Court of Appeal ruling, and finally to Justice Lifu once Justice Mohammed was elevated to the appellate court. Naija News noted that the prosecution had been about to close its case in December 2023 when that happened, and the matter went to Justice Lifu for a fresh trial.
The prosecution called nine witnesses. After it rested, the defendants filed a no-case submission, arguing they had nothing to answer. On July 23, 2025, Justice Lifu refused it. “Consequently, upon my conclusion, the defendants’ no-case submission is hereby refused and dismissed,” he ruled, and he told them to enter their defences. His finding was that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case.
The defence opened on October 10, 2025. Suswam took the stand and was the only witness the defence called. Once he finished, the defendants closed.
Tribune counted almost 11 years of repeated adjournments and re-arraignments. The next date, July 16, 2026, is when the final addresses are due to be adopted.
Sources
- Suswam: Court adjourns N3.1bn money laundering trial to July 16 – Tribune Online
- "11-Year Trial Nears End" – Court Fixes July 16 For Final Addresses In Suswam's Alleged N3.1bn Fraud Case – TheNigeriaLawyer
- Alleged N3.1 Billion Fraud: Court Fixes Date For Final Addresses In Suswam's Trial | Naija News
