The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday gave a Federal High Court in Abuja details of how a former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, and his Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia, looted the Benue State Government 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 court that his team investigated the petition dated July 14, 2015 against Suswam and Okolobia.
Sa’id said investigation revealed the former governor requested that shares owned by the Benue State Government be sold for N10 billion to be raised.
Consequent upon that, 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.
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, when Elixir attempted to pay into the two separate accounts of the Benue State Ministry of Finance as was directed, it was discovered that one of the accounts does not belong to the Ministry but to one Fanffash Resources.
Sa’id stated further that upon this discovery, Elixir sought clarification from Okolobia, who gave the company 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 N3.1 billion was paid into Fanffash Resources account.
The witness said the owner of Fanfash Resources, Abubakar Umar, was invited by the EFCC,
Umar confirmed that he received N3.1 billion and converted same to its dollar equivalent, amounting to $15.8 million, and that he delivered it in cash to former Governor Suswam at his Maitama Residence in Abuja.
He told the court that the finance commissioner confirmed issuing directives for the payments made to Fanffash Resources and the Benue State Ministry of Finance.
He also confirmed to EFCC investigating team that he collected N370 million in cash from the the cashier of Benue State Ministry of Finance.
The court adjourned till January 18 and 19 next year for cross examination of the witness and continuation of hearing.