Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The alleged N3.1 billion fraud trial involving former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam suffered another delay on Friday, October 2, 2026, after the absence of his lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, stalled the scheduled adoption of final written addresses.
Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, are facing charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged diversion and money laundering involving N3.1 billion from proceeds of the sale of Benue State Government shares.
The matter was before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja for the adoption of final written addresses, a stage that ordinarily precedes judgment.
At the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the prosecution was ready to adopt its final address but had received a letter from Daudu requesting an adjournment.
According to Atolagbe, Daudu would be unavailable because he was scheduled to attend the International Bar Association annual conference in Denmark between October 4 and 9, 2026.
The prosecution counsel objected to the request, describing it as what he considered a “deliberate ploy to frustrate the prosecution.”
Atolagbe reminded the court that the case had been pending since 2015 and that evidence had already been concluded in November 2025.
He also recalled that proceedings had previously stalled on July 16, 2026, when Suswam was absent and his lawyers cited his ill health.
The prosecution further argued that the proceedings should not be delayed simply because of the absence of Daudu, noting that other lawyers had been involved in the defence of the case.
Atolagbe specifically pointed out that Chinelo Ogbozor had substantially conducted the defence proceedings, rather than Daudu.
“My Lord, in this case, the letter is saying that J.B. Daudu wants to conduct the proceedings. But C. Ogbozor has been conducting the defence, and the record of this court is very clear,” the prosecution counsel said.
He further noted that Daudu’s letter had identified other lawyers who could potentially represent Suswam during his absence.
The prosecution nevertheless indicated that it would not insist on proceeding without the lead defence counsel because doing so could create an argument that Suswam had been denied a fair hearing.
“It will be difficult for us to ask the court to proceed because we don’t want any party to raise any issue of fair hearing, but this is really sad,” Atolagbe said.
Counsel to the second defendant, Paul Erokoro, SAN, did not oppose the request for an adjournment. He, however, pointed out that the defence had previously complained about delays caused by the prosecution during the earlier stages of the trial.
The exchange between the lawyers prompted Justice Lifu to intervene.
The judge noted that there was no need for further arguments because the request for an adjournment was not being opposed by the parties before the court.
Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter until November 6, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses.
The latest adjournment adds to a series of delays that have prolonged the corruption case for almost 11 years.
Suswam and Okolobia were first arraigned by the EFCC in November 2015 over allegations involving N3.1 billion allegedly diverted from proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
The EFCC alleged that the funds were channelled through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited between August and October 2014.
Both defendants have denied the allegations.
The case has passed through several judges and undergone multiple re-arraignments and adjournments. It was eventually assigned to Justice Lifu following the elevation of the previous trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, to the Court of Appeal. Suswam and Okolobia were re-arraigned before Justice Lifu in March 2024.
The EFCC called nine witnesses and tendered documentary evidence before closing its case.
The defendants subsequently filed no-case submissions, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
In July 2025, however, Justice Lifu dismissed the no-case submissions and ordered the defendants to enter their defence. The ruling did not amount to a finding of guilt against either defendant.
Suswam later testified as the sole defence witness, while Okolobia did not testify or call a witness. The defence eventually closed its case on November 24, 2025.
The court thereafter scheduled the adoption of final written addresses, but the matter has repeatedly failed to reach that stage.
In July 2026, proceedings were again stalled after Suswam was absent from court, with his counsel citing health reasons. The court subsequently fixed another date for the adoption of the final addresses.
The prosecution has now raised renewed concerns about what it considers repeated delays in a case that has remained before the courts since 2015.
For now, no judgment has been delivered in the matter. The allegations against Suswam and Okolobia remain pending, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a competent court.
The case will next come up on November 6, 2026, when the parties are expected to adopt their final written addresses.
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