A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, Tuesday adjourned its proceedings over the N3 billion alleged fraud preferred against a former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam.
This development followed the absence of the lead defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, who was reportedly sick.
Announcing appearance for Daudu and the defendant, David Iorhemba told the court that the lead counsel requested a fairly long time of adjournment to enable him recuperate.
In his words, “The counsel asked for a fairly long adjournment to enable him recover”.
However, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob, SAN, did not object to the adjournment application.
But said, “We were told that Dauda would not be in court today. And that he would be asking for adjournment. Therefore, we did not come with our Witness”.
It was on this premise that presiding Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed adjourned the case to May 22 and 23 for continuation of hearing.
It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is presently prosecuting the former Governor and senator-elect, Suswam, along with former commissioner of Finance under his administration, Omodachi Okolobia on money laundering charges involving the diversion of over N3.1bn, allegedly stolen from the sale of shares owned by the state government.
