The trial of Senator Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue, was on Monday stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja over his inability to commence defence.
Suswam is standing trial alongside Omodachi Okolobia, his former commissioner of finance, on amended 11-count charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC accused them of diverting N3.1 billion, part of proceeds from the sale of Benue’s shares held by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
On July 23, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed a no-case submission by the defendants and ordered them to open their defence.
At the resumed proceedings, Suswam, through his lawyer, J.B. Daudu, asked the court for three weeks to prepare his defence.
Daudu told the court that one of his colleagues, Chenelu Ogbozor, was hospitalised, adding that an appeal had also been filed against the ruling dismissing their no-case submission.
A.O. Atolagbe, EFCC counsel, opposed the request, arguing that the defence had over two months during the annual court recess to prepare.
Atolagbe said: “We have more than two months to prepare for the defence.
“In fact, this case has been up for 10 years and they have had more than 10 years to prepare. We cannot wait for the court of appeal and ask this trial court to do the same.”
Justice Lifu expressed frustration over the delay in the matter, which he said had dragged on for more than a decade.
“No matter what, a case should not go on for 10 years,” the judge said.
The judge adjourned the matter till October 10 for the defendants to open their defence.