The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) has given a Federal High Court in Abuja details of how Gabriel Suswam, the former governor of Benue state and his finance commissioner, Omadachi Okolobia, allegedly looted over N3.1 billion belonging to the state government. Speaking at the resumed hearing on Tuesday, December 8, Junaidu Sa’id, the prosecution witness and a detective with the EFCC said an investigation by his team revealed that the former governor requested that shares owned by the Benue state government in the Benue Investment and Property Company be sold off for the sum of N10 billion, Channels TV reports.According to Sa’id, Elixir Investment Partners was appointed as stockbrokers to carry out the sales of the shares, during which over N9 billion was realized. They were thereafter instructed to pay the N9 billion into three different bank accounts.
One of the accounts was that of the Benue state Ministry of Finance, where N5 billion was paid, while a total sum of N3.1 billion was paid into Fanffash Resources account. He noted that when Abubakar Umar, the owner of Fanfash Resources was invited by the EFCC, he confirmed that he received N3.1 billion in his company account and converted same to dollar equivalent, amounting to $15.8 million.
Umar added that he delivered same in cash to the former governor at his Maitama residence in Abuja. Sa’id told the court that the finance commissioner confirmed issuing directives for the payments to be made to Fanffash Resources and Benue State Ministry of Finance. The court adjourned till January 18 and 19, 2016 for cross examination of the witness and continuation of hearing.
Janet Aluga, the Benue government house accountant recently disclosed how she took millions of naira to Suswam at the governor’s Lodge in Makurdi, from the Ministry of Finance, without following due process. Governor Samuel Ortom had set up a judicial commission of inquiry in August to look into the financial engagement of Suswam’s administration. He was arraigned before a court in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, November 4 over allegation of N3.1 billion fraud.