The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the 11-year-old ₦3.1 billion money laundering trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia, to September 25, 2026, for adoption of final written addresses.
Justice Peter Lifu adjourned the matter on Thursday despite opposition from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which urged the court not to further delay the case.
The adoption of final written addresses is the last stage before judgment. The adjournment means the matter will now continue after the court’s annual vacation, which begins on July 27, 2026.
The EFCC arraigned Suswam and Okolobia in November 2015 on 11 counts bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
The Commission alleged that the defendants diverted ₦3.1 billion from proceeds of the sale of Benue State Government shares in some companies. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At Thursday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that he had received a letter from Suswam’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro, SAN, stating that both counsel and the former governor were unable to attend court due to ill health.
Jacobs said the letter requested him to seek an adjournment on behalf of the first defendant.
However, the prosecution opposed the request and urged the court to proceed with the adoption of final written addresses, arguing that the case had already suffered repeated delays.
“I urge the court to give us leave to move for the adoption of the written address, and not to seek adjournment in a case that is 11 years old,” Jacobs said.
He also noted that Justice Lifu is the latest judge to handle the matter after the case had moved between different judges over the years.
In the alternative, Jacobs asked the court to adjourn only till Friday, July 17, and allow Suswam to participate virtually if he was unable to appear physically.
The prosecution argued that the case ought to have ended more than a year ago.
Jacobs also alleged that he saw Suswam at public functions the previous week, accusing the former governor of making a mockery of the justice system and bringing it into disrepute.
Counsel to the second defendant, Audu Agunga, SAN, did not oppose the request for adjournment.
Agunga said the explanation contained in the letter suggested that Suswam needed to rest and urged the court to exercise its discretion in the interest of justice.
Jacobs objected to Agunga’s submission, arguing that he had assumed the role of counsel to the first defendant.
The EFCC lawyer also argued that there was no medical report before the court to justify the request for adjournment.
He cited Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which he said allowed the court to proceed in the absence of a defendant in appropriate circumstances.
Justice Lifu, however, adjourned the matter to September 25, 2026, for adoption of final written addresses.
The EFCC’s statement did not indicate why the judge declined the prosecution’s request to adjourn the matter only till Friday or to allow Suswam participate virtually.
The case, which has remained before the Federal High Court in Abuja for more than a decade, is one of Nigeria’s longest-running high-profile corruption trials.
The EFCC alleged that the ₦3.1 billion was realised from the sale of Benue State Government shares managed through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
According to the Commission, the funds were allegedly channelled through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited between August and October 2014.
The case has suffered several delays and has moved between judges.
The original trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, withdrew from the matter. The case was later assigned to Justice Okon Abang before the Court of Appeal ordered that it be returned to Justice Mohammed.
Following Justice Mohammed’s elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2023, the matter was reassigned to Justice Lifu, before whom the defendants were re-arraigned in March 2024.
The EFCC called nine witnesses and tendered documentary evidence before closing its case.
The defendants later filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
However, in July 2025, Justice Lifu dismissed the no-case submission and held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence requiring the defendants to enter their defence.
Suswam later testified as the sole defence witness before both defendants closed their case.
