The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the 11-year-old N3.1 billion money laundering trial of former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam to 25 September.
Judge Peter Lifu made this decision on Thursday, despite a request from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hear the case on Friday.
This delay means the final written addresses, which are the last step before judgment, will now happen after the court's annual vacation that starts on 27 July.
During Thursday's session, the prosecution urged Judge Lifu not to delay the case any longer. They pointed out that it has already taken 11 years and that three judges have handled it during that time. The prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stated, "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 and your lordship is the fifth judge to come and sit on the case."
The EFCC charged Mr Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia, in November 2015. They face 11 charges of conspiracy and money laundering related to a breach of trust.
The EFCC claims they diverted N3.1 billion from the sale of Benue State Government shares in some companies. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Since the trial began, it has faced many delays, with final written addresses postponed multiple times.
On Thursday, when the court was supposed to adopt the final written addresses, Jacobs said he received a letter from Suswam's lawyer, Paul Erokoro, also a SAN. The letter stated that both Erokoro and Suswam could not attend due to health issues.
Jacobs said the letter asked him to seek an adjournment for Suswam. He opposed this request and asked the court to continue with the adoption of the final written addresses instead of granting another delay in this 11-year-old case.
As an alternative, Jacobs suggested the court adjourn the case until Friday, 17 July, and allow Suswam to participate virtually if he could not attend in person. He argued that the case should have concluded over a year ago.
Jacobs also claimed he saw Suswam at public events the week before and accused him of “making mockery of the justice system” and bringing it into disrepute.
On the other hand, the lawyer for the second defendant, Audu Agunga, another SAN, did not oppose the application. He stated that the letter suggested Suswam “needed to rest” and urged the court to consider this in the interest of justice.
Jacobs responded, saying Agunga was acting as Suswam's lawyer. He also pointed out that there was no medical proof before the court to support the request and cited Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. This section, he argued, allows the court to continue in the defendant's absence.
Judge Lifu, however, decided to adjourn the case until 25 September for the adoption of final written addresses. The EFCC did not explain why Judge Lifu rejected the prosecution’s request to move the case to Friday or to allow virtual participation for Suswam.
The N3.1 billion money laundering case against Suswam has been in the Federal High Court in Abuja for over ten years. This makes it one of the longest-running high-profile corruption trials in Nigeria.
The EFCC first charged Suswam and Okolobia in November 2015. They are accused of diverting N3.1 billion from the sale of Benue State Government shares managed by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC).
The EFCC claims the funds were moved through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited from August to October 2014. Both defendants have always denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
The case has seen many delays over the years. It changed hands between three judges after the original judge, Ahmed Mohammed, withdrew from it. The case was passed to Judge Okon Abang before the Court of Appeal ordered it back to Judge Mohammed.
After Judge Mohammed was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2023, the case went to Judge Lifu, where the defendants were re-arraigned in March 2024. After hearing from nine witnesses and presenting documents, the EFCC closed its case. The defendants then filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution did not present enough evidence.
In July 2025, Judge Lifu dismissed this application, stating that the prosecution provided enough evidence for the defendants to defend themselves. Suswam later testified as the only defense witness before both defendants ended their case. The court then set a date for final written addresses, which is the last step before judgment.
The defendants finished their defense on 24 November 2025 after Suswam testified. Judge Lifu set 20 January for final written addresses and directed both sides to exchange their written arguments on time.
But the case did not move to final arguments on that date. It was delayed again before the court finally set 29 May for final written addresses after confirming that both sides were ready to wrap up the trial.
The matter was postponed again, and on 1 July, the judge moved it to 16 July for final written addresses.
Mr Suswam served in the House of Representatives for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo before becoming governor in 2007. He was governor from 2007 to 2015, during which he allegedly committed the crimes he is being prosecuted for.
He lost the Senate election for Benue North-East after completing his second term as governor in 2015. While on trial for the last 11 years, the 61-year-old Suswam won the senatorial election for Benue North-East in 2019 and served until 2023.
In March 2024, Suswam announced his intention to run for the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which he won all his previous elections. He did not succeed in his bid to lead the PDP.
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