The trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, over an alleged N3.1 billion fraud has dragged into its 12th year, with defence proceedings yet to begin despite a court ruling ordering the defendants to open their case.
Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Oklobia, were first arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) on November 4, 2015, on charges bordering on money laundering and alleged diversion of proceeds from the sale of Benue State Government shares in Dangote Cement Plc.
The EFCC alleges that about N3.1 billion realised from the transaction was diverted for personal use, a claim both defendants have consistently denied.
After years of hearings, adjournments, and judicial reassignments, the case appeared to progress in July 2025 when Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a no-case submission filed by the defendants and ordered them to enter their defence.
However, nearly a year later, the defence stage has yet to commence.
The court had fixed September 25, 2025, for the defence, but the hearing did not proceed. It was later adjourned to January 20, 2026, for adoption of final written addresses, and subsequently shifted again to May 29, 2026.
The May sitting could not hold because the court was not in session, leading to another adjournment until July 17, 2026.
The trial has faced repeated disruptions over the years, including changes of trial judges. Justice Ahmed Mohammed initially handled the matter before withdrawing in 2016 over concerns about impartiality, later returning before stepping aside again in 2019. The case was later reassigned to Justice Okon Abang, who began hearing prosecution evidence before an appellate court returned the file to Justice Mohammed.
Following Justice Mohammed’s elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2023, the case was reassigned to Justice Lifu.
The EFCC concluded its case after calling nine witnesses, including investigators, financial officials, stockbroking representatives, and a bureau de change operator.
Despite the prosecution closing its case and the court ruling that a prima facie case exists, the matter has remained stalled, raising continued concerns over prolonged judicial delays in high-profile corruption trials.
The case is expected to return to court on July 17, 2026.
