As Court Adjourns Case
- Safiu Kehinde
The absence of the former Benue state governor, Gabriel Suswam, as stalled the adoption of the final written addresses over the age-long alleged N3.1 billion fraud suit filed against him.
At the resumption of the case before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, adjourned the trial.
According to a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) at the start of the proceedings informed the court that the matter before the court was for the adoption of final written addresses.
Rotimi however noted that there was a letter from Suswam’s counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN) informing him of his inability and that of Suswam, the first defendant to make it to the court on health grounds.
The prosecution counsel further informed the court that the defence counsel in the letter urged him to apply for an adjournment based on the ill health of the first defendant.
“We are surprised that there is a letter from the first defendant’s counsel saying he will not be in court.
“I should oppose this application and 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,” he said.
Though the prosecution counsel urged the court to adjourn the matter till Friday, July 17, 2026, he asked that the defendant should be made to connect to the proceeding by zoom.
“I would urge the court to adjourn this matter till tomorrow and ask the court to connect the defendant to zoom even if he is at home to join the matter.
“My lord we would have closed this case for more than a year now. We have seen the first defendant even last week attending public functions, they are making mockery of the justice system.
“They are bringing the justice system into disrepute. My lord, that is my humble application,” he said.
Counsel to the second defendant, Audu Agunga (SAN), on his part, stated that the excuses given in the letter suggested that the defendant needed to take a rest.
“We are an interested party. We are just lucky that we are in good health. On our own part, we are not opposed to the application, it is most warranted and in the interest of justice.
“The court will be better served, and this court has the discretion in the circumstance,” he said.
The prosecution counsel in his response frowned at what he saw as the attempt of the second defendant’s counsel to take on the role of the counsel to the first defendant.
“My lord, as you can see, my friend is taking over as counsel to the first defendant. The role of a respondent in an application is to either object or agree.
“But he has thrown himself as counsel to the first defendant, which he should not. Your lordship can even disregard the request for adjournment because there is no medical record before the court.
“Section 266 of ACJA says that an application can be taken even in the absence of the defendant,” he said.
Justice Lifu adjourned the matter till September 25, 2026, for adoption of the final written addresses by the counsel.