Witness prays he would not be needed again
By: Mercy Peter
One of the witnesses in the ongoing case between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswan threw the court into laughter when he told the judge that he prays they would not be needing him again.
Suswan, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia are facing 11-count amended charges of money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion, being part of the proceeds from the sales of the state government’s shares held on its behalf by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, sold through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
Hearing of the case continued on Monday, November 11, 2024 at Court 9, FederaofHigh Court, presided over by Judge, Justice Peter Lifu, with James Gera, a Civil Servant in the State Ministry of Finance between 2013 to 2016 taking the witness box.
With the case adjourned, Gera threw the entire court into laughter when he said may he not be needed again by the court in response to the comment by the Judge, who said that he would be contacted if he is needed again. He replied, “My Lord, may you not need me again.”
The presiding Judge, after the cross examination of the only witness in court adjourned the case till November 20th 2024.
Gera said he only acted on instruction as doing otherwise would have amounted to insubordination and that would have fetched him query.
He confirmed that he did cash and transfer of monies based on the instruction of the Director of Finance in the ministry.
He said he provided the payment vouchers, cash receipts and Schedule of payment to EFCC on invitation.
He stressed that they were internal payment and he was operating under the instruction of the Director of finance
He also confirmed that N200 million cheque was issued to Oklobia, in December 2014 and another N128 million on 13 January 2015.
The sum of N250 million was also raised for sundry expenses for the government.
N100 million was collected for Permanent Secretary of Finance and N150 million for the Commissioner of Finance.
He however said there was no retirement of fund all through the period.
He said though he does not know the activities of the ministry, he said the office approves the voucher and he carries out the implementation.
The witness was grilled by Prosecuting lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe and lawyers of the defendants, Chinelu Ugbozor for Suswan and Audu Anuga for Oklobia.
