Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and a Finance Commissioner in his administration, Omodachi Okolobia, were arraigned yesterday before a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged money laundering and breach of trust.
The two, accused of laundering about N3.1 billion belonging to Benue State, were arraigned before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed on a nine-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail for N100 million and one surety each.
Their lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), applied for their bails, following their pleas.
Raji prayed the court to grant them bails on self-recognition.
But prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who did not oppose the bail application, insisted that the conditions be attached to the bails.
Justice Mohammed granted the accused bail at N100 million with one surety each.
The judge added that each surety must be an employee of an agency or establishment of the state or federal government and must not be below Grade Level 12.
The judge averred that in the absence of civil servants, the defendants could produce Nigerians who had been conferred with national honours.
But he added that the sureties must swear to affidavits of means while the accused were to deposit their passports with the court’s Registrar.
Suswam and Okolobia were alleged to have, between August 8 and October 30, 2014, in Abuja, used a company, Elixir Securities Limited, to divert about N3,111,008,018.51, the proceeds from the sale of the shares of Benue State government and the state’s Investment and Property Company Limited.
They were also accused of diverting the money, which formed part of N9,411,708,009.51 realised from the sale of the shares of the state, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended in 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
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