A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has, today, granted former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, bail in the sum of N100 million over an alleged fraud involving the sum of N3. 1 Billion.
Suswam was arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion.
The former governor was arraigned alongside the former Benue state commissioner for Finance, Omadaki Oklobia, in line with Section 15(2, 3) of the Money Laundering Act (2011).
Both Suswam and the former Commissioner pleaded not guilty to the charges and their counsel, Ahmed Raji, asked the court to grant them bail on self-recognition for which the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs did not oppose.
He however insisted that it should not be on self-recognition since a former Governor has jumped bail in the past.
In his ruling, Justice A. R Mohammed granted bail to the two accused on provision of a N100 million bond with two sureties, who must be senior civil servants of level 12 and above, or any person occupying a national office.
The trial judge further ruled that the two accused persons will remain in the custody of the EFCC until they perfected their bail conditions.
Suswam and Okolobia were alleged to have diverted the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue State government and Benue Investment and Property Company Ltd.
The EFCC had on October 2, 2015 filed a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion at a Federal High Court, Abuja against Suswam and Okolobia. [myad]
