Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue State and serving senator
in the 9th assembly has bribed a judge to subvert justice in his favour
when the N3.1 billion case fraud case preferred against him by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) comes up on the July 9
and 10, 2019, SaharaReporters can confirm.
The trial judge Suswam bribed is Justice Ahmed R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
A top source privy to the transaction told SaharaReporters Suswam
gave the judge the equivalent of N500 million (in foreign currency) on
the second week of June at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Backstory
The EFCC dragged Suswam to court for selling shares belonging to
the Benue State Investment And Property Company and diverting part
proceeds of the transaction (N3,111,008,018.51) to a company, Fanfash
Resources, with Zenith Bank account number 1013677218.
Investigations revealed that the account belongs to one Abubakar Umar who operates a Bureau de change in Abuja.
The sum was later withdrawn and converted into foreign currencies and handed over to former governor Suswam his house.
Umar's Testimony
In a statement to the EFCC on November 22, 2017, Umar narrated how
he helped the former governor to convert the sum of N3.1 billion into
dollars (which amounted to $15.8million), between August and October
2014.
Umar, who is the Principal Witness 4 in the case, said he converted the money and took same to Suswam at his house in Maitama.
He later recanted his testimony telling the court he was offered
money to do so by close associates of Suswam forcing the EFCC to declare
him a hostile witness.
The businessman said, “In August 2014, my boss, former Governor
of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, called me to his house in Abuja and
introduced me to a lady whom he never told me her name and asked me to
give her my account details, and I did. Mr. Suswan told me that she
would transfer money to me and that when I receive alert I should give
him the dollar equivalent”.
Umar according to his statement told the court that he handed over
the money to Suswan at his house in Maitama, Abuja, adding that “all
the times I took dollars to Suswan, I always took different taxis for
my security so that nobody would know I am carrying cash or where I am
going to”.
He also added that he did not know any security man attached to
Suswan's house as they were always changed. Umar said he used to call
Suswan before going to the house so that he can leave his name at the
gate.
Umar added that whenever he gets to the house, he does not interact
with anyone but remains in the car until Suswan comes out, takes him to
a private part of his house where he gives him the money in dollars. He
added that Suswan does not acknowledge the receipt of all the monies in
writing.
Habitual Briber
SaharaReporters found out that in the same manner in which he
bribed Justice Mohammed, Suswam has bribed the Election Petition
Tribunal judges in Benue State with N187 million (advance) to dismiss
the appeal filed at the tribunal by one Mrs. Mimi Adzakpe Urubibi who
contested the Benue North-east senatorial seat on the platform of the
All Progressive Congress (APC) challenging his election to the Senate.
The bribed tribunal judges are, Hon. Justice R. O. Odugwu (Chairman), Justice M. A. Onyetenu (Member) and Justice Esther Tata.
The transaction which took place at Benue hotel was brokered by a People's Democratic Party governor from the South-east.
The case which made the former governor bribe Justice Mohammed is
set to come up July 9 and 10 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Mohammed is expected according to the agreement of the bribe, to rule in favour of Suswam.
Source: SaharaReporters
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