Abuja (Precise Post) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday re-arraigned a former governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam and his Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Oklobi on N3.1billion money laundering charges.
Suswam, a Senator representing Benue North East, and his co-defendant, pleaded not guilty when the nine counts were read to them before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday.
They were initially arraigned before Justice Ahmed Mohammed in the same Abuja division of the court in November 2015.
But Justice Mohammed withdrew from the case in July this year following a SaharaReporter’s story, accusing him of unethical practices in respect of the case.
The case was subsequently re-assigned to Justice Abang.
Before the arraignment yesterday, Justice Abang dismissed an objection raised by the defendants against the transfer of the case.
Suswam, through his counsel, Chinelo Ogbozor, had urged the judge to return the case file to Justice Mohammed.
But Justice Abang sustained the arguments put forward by the prosecuting counsel, Leke Atolagbe, who urged the judge to assume jurisdiction and order the defendants to be arraigned.
The judge said Justice Mohammed had in a letter of 5th July, 2019, detailed the reasons he withdrew from the case, adding that he would not reverse the administrative decision of the Chief Judge, who re-assigned the case to him.
The defendants were originally arraigned before Justice Mohammed in November 2015.
The prosecution had called four witnesses before the recent withdrawal of the judge from the case.
However, Justice Abang yesterday, adjourned till October 29 for the commencement of trial.
