By David Oluwatosin
The trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, over an alleged N3.1 billion diversion was stalled on Friday, October 2, 2026, following the absence of his lead counsel, J.P. Daudu, SAN.
Suswam and a former Commissioner for Finance in Benue State, Okolobia Okpanachi, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a nine-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N3.1 billion.
The matter was scheduled for the adoption of final written addresses when prosecution counsel, O.A. Atolagbe, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed.
Atolagbe, however, said counsel to the first defendant had written to the court seeking an adjournment because Daudu would be attending the International Bar Conference scheduled for October 4 to 9, 2026.
The prosecution opposed the request, describing the application as a move capable of frustrating the conclusion of the case.
“We ask to be on record that this application is a deliberate plot to frustrate this proceeding,” Atolagbe told the court.
He noted that the charge dates back to 2015 and argued that the court had treated the matter expeditiously, adding that the evidence stage was concluded in November 2025.
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The prosecution counsel further recalled that Suswam and his counsel had previously been absent from proceedings on July 16, 2026, when the matter was also scheduled to continue.
Atolagbe also told the court that Daudu had not substantially conducted proceedings in the case, alleging that another member of the defence team, Chinelo Ogbozor, had handled most of the proceedings since 2015.
“If we continue this way, the entire case will be frustrated,” he said.
He nevertheless acknowledged the need to protect the defendants’ right to fair hearing, but said the prosecution was compelled to object to the application in order to avoid further delays in concluding the case.
After hearing the submissions, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to November 6, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses.
The adjournment further delays the conclusion of the long-running case, which dates back to 2015.
