Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Court Remands Ex-Governor Suswam In Custody

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the remand of former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam in the EFCC custody pending perfection of his bail conditions.

Justice Mohammed ordered the remand of Suswam and his Finance Commissioner, Omodachi Okolobia, while ruling on a bail application, moved by Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, counsel to the defendants.

Suswam and Okolobia were arraigned before the court on a nine-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and money laundering amounting to N3.1billion.

The two respondents pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them by the court registrar.

Prosecution counsel, Mr. 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."

Justice Mohammed thus adjourned the case to December 8 for trial.

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