A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the remand of Suswam and his ex-Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, while ruling on a bail application, moved by Ahmed Raji (SAN), counsel to the defendants
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Suswam and Okolobia were arraigned before the court on a nine-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and money laundering.
The two respondents pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them by the court registrar.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), did not oppose the bail application of the defendants on the ground that they had been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had not jumped bail.
Justice Mohammed held: “The respondents are granted bail in the sum of N100 million each and a surety each in like sum.
“The surety must be a civil servant of not less than the cadre of Director in the federal, state or local government service.
“In the alternative, the surety must have a national honour and must swear to an affidavit of means.
“The defendants shall submit their international passport to the registrar of the court.
“Failure to meet these requirements, the defendants shall be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.”
Suswam and Okolobia were charged by the EFCC for alleged diversion of N3.1 billion realised from the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government and Benue Investments and Property Limited.
Justice Mohammed adjourned the case till December 8 for trial.
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