From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The trial of former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, was, yesterday, stalled at the Abuja division of a Federal High Court following his continued detention by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Meanwhile, the Federal Government, on Monday, filed a fresh suit against Suswam, and two others over alleged diversion of N9.79 billion, part of which was meant for police reform and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
Those charged alongside Suswam in the fresh 32-count charges are Omadachi Oklobia, his former commissioner of Finance and Janet Aluga, former accountant, Benue State Government House. This is coming barely one month after the DSS raided Suswam’s house, where it allegedly recovered cars and arms in a property in Abuja, both of which were said to belong to him.
In the charge before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Suswam and Okolobia are facing trial for allegedly defrauding Benue State government of N3.1 billion while in office.
The were, on November 10, 2015, arraigned before Justice Mohammed on a nine-count charge which bordered on allegations of financial impropriety and money laundering.