Former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam and and his ex-Commissioner of Finance Omodachi Okolobia are to be remanded in EFCC custody pending perfection of their N100 million each among other bail conditions.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed of Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the remand of Suswam while ruling on a bail application moved by Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, counsel to the defendants
NAN reports that Suswam and Okolobia were arraigned before the court on a nine-count charge of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and laundering of N3.1 billion realised from the sale of shares owned by Benue State Government and Benue Investments and Property Ltd..
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 they had not jumped bail.
Justice Mohammed held: “The respondents are granted bail 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 EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.’’
Justice Mohammed adjourned the case till Dec. 8 for trial.
-NAN
