ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), has given a Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja detail of how former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam and his finance commissioner, Omadachi Okolobia, looted the Benue State Government to the tune of over N3.1 billion.
At the resumed trial on Tuesday, the prosecution witness and a detective with the EFCC, Junaidu Sa’Id, told the FHC that his team investigated the petition dated July 14, 2015 against Suswam and his finance commissioner.
Sa’Id said investigation revealed that former governor requested that shares owned by the Benue State Government be sold for the sum of N10 billion.
Consequent upon that, he said, Elixir Investment Partners was appointed as stockbrokers to carry out the sales of the shares, of which over N9 billion was realised from the sales of the shares.
Elixir Investment Partners, the witness said, was thereafter instructed to pay the N9 billion realised from the sales of the shares into three different bank accounts.
He said that another instruction was given for the payment of N1 billion to Benue Investment Properties Company’s account, while the balance of N8 billion was paid into two separate accounts with the name of Benue State Ministry of Finance.
However, the EFCC witness said, when Elixir attempted to payinto the two separate accounts of Benue State ministry of finance as was directed, it was discovered that one of the accounts did not belong to Benue State ministry of finance but belongs to one Fanffash Resources.
Sa’id stated further that upon this discovery, Elixir sought clarification from the then commissioner of finance (2nd Defendant), who gave him the go-ahead that the payment should be made in the name of Fanffash Resources.
Investigation revealed that N5 billion was paid into the account of Benue State ministry of finance by Elixir Investment Partners, while a total sum of N3.1 billion was paid into Fanffash Resources account.
The witness said the owner of Fanfash Resources, Abubakar Umar was invited by the EFCC, who confirmed that he received N3.1 billion and converted same to dollar equivalent, amounting to $15.8 million and that he delivered same in cash to former Governor Suswam at his Maitama Residence in Abuja.
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He told the court that the finance commissioner confirmed issuing directives for the payments made to Fanffash Resources and Benue State ministry of finance.
He also confirmed to EFCC investigating team that he collected a total sum of N370 million in cash from the the cashier of Benue State ministry of finance.
The court adjourned till January 18 and 19, 2016, for cross examination of the witness and continuation of hearing.
