EFCC re-arraigns Suswam, ex-Finance Commissioner over alleged fraud
Suswam was re-arraigned alongside the then Commissioner of Finance during his administration, Omadachi Okolobia, on 11-count charge bordering on money laundering.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Suswam,
who presently represents Benue North-East Senatorial District, is the 1st
defendant, Okolobia is the 2nd defendant in the suit.
The duo were initially arraigned before Justice Mohammed in
2015 on a nine count before the case was transferred to Justice Okon Abang of
the same jurisdiction.
The defendants were being prosecuted on N3.1 billion money
laundering charges.
The anti-graft agency had accused them of diverting the
money which was said to be part of the proceeds of the sale of some shares of
Benue in a company.
Justice Mohammed had recused himself twice from the case
before a former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Adamu Kafarati.
Mohammed withdrew from the case due to allegations from a
publication that he received bribe in order to give Suswam a “soft landing.”
The case was then reassigned to Justice Abang.
However, the Court of Appeal had, on Feb. 19, ordered that
the case file with suit number: FHC/CR/ABJ/362/2015, involving Suswam and
Okolobia, be returned to Justice Mohammed who started the case.
The development followed the defence counsel’s
dissatisfaction with Justice Mohammed’s action, leading to the reassignment of
the case to Justice Abang.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, EFCC Lawyer, Oluwaleke
Atolagbe, told Justice Mohammed that the agency had an amended charge dated and
filed on Oct. 15.
“I humbly apply under Sections 216 and 218 of Administration
of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 for this honourable court to accept the
amended charge and direct that the defendants take their plea on the charge
subject to the convenience of the court,” he said.
Counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendants, Adedayo Adedeji and
Audu Aloga respectively, did not oppose the application.
The judge then accepted the amended charge and ordered it to
be read to the defendants.
In the counts, Okolobia was alleged to have accepted cash
payments in the sum of N128 million, N100 million, N150 million and N200
million at different occasions from one Gera James, a non-financial
institution, which were said to have exceeded the threshold authorised by law
and contrary to the Money Laundromat Act.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Justice Mohammed, who adjourned the matter until Dec. 15,
ordered the prosecution counsel to transfer all the exhibits before Justice
Abang to his court registry.
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