The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is billed to arraign the former Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, for money laundering and embezzlement on Wednesday (today).
Suwsan was governor of Benue State from 2007 to 2015 and is facing allegations of financial improprieties during his tenure.
The anti-graft agency is filling a nine-count charge largely bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion against him at the Federal High Court Abuja on October 2.
The offence is punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012.
Prior to the filing of charges, EFCC had quizzed Suswam and Okolobia based on the report of the Benue State’s 16-member Transition Committee, led by its chairman, Mr. Mike Iordye.
The committee had uncovered the shares scam as well as over N90 billion debt and disappearance of N6.507 billion meant for SURE-P among others.
Shortly after Governor Samuel Ortom took over, he said he would probe Suswam’s administration.
He said: “We are going to look at Governor Suswam’s administration. Though we do not have specific areas where we intend to look at, I assure you that we are going to stand for the people of Benue State.”
On his part, Suswam said he was not afraid of the ongoing probe of his administration by the Ortom administration.
He said the probe might set bad precedent in the state and no one knows whose turn would be next.
“On the issue of probe going on in Benue State, it is not that one is afraid, but once a precedent is set, it is a double-edge sword. You don’t know whose turn it is tomorrow; you don’t know tomorrow,”he said..
“When I became the governor of Benue State, I met some issues on ground, but I resolved it amicably. When there are issues, let us talk about it amicably instead of grandstanding. This remains my approach to life. I encourage us in Benue to toe the path of peace.”
A source in the agency confirmed, last night, that the commission was convinced that the former governor and those who aided him to lauder the funds of the state must be charged to court.
The source said: “Barring any last minute hitch, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will formally arraign the former governor of Benue State,Gabriel Suswam before an Abuja Court tomorrow, November 4, 2014.
“The anti-graft agency had on Monday, 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.”
While Suswam is facing the trial by the EFCC, he had successfully stopped his probe by the state governor, Samuel Ortom, by securing the order of the Benue State High Court to restrain the commission of enquiry raised by the governor from investigating his tenure.
It is not clear if Suswam will also get the same court to restrain the EFCC from proceeding with his trial.
