Mariam Abeeb
A Group known as Civil Society For Anti Corruption And Transparency, CSLFAAT has demanded for the speedy conclusion of ex Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam and his ex commissioner for finance , Omadachi Okolobia alledged fraud trail which has about 11 years .
The spokesman of the CSO, Mohammed saad in a press statement explained that the trail came up for hearing at Abuja , and it was observed that the ex governor was absent.
He mentioned that case which commenced in November 2015 has now spent over 11 years in the corridors of the Federal High Court with no end in sight.
The spokesman asked why the critical stage of the trial is allowed to drift without explanation.
According to him, the citizens of Benue State and indeed all Nigerians have a right to know why a case involving N3.1 billion of public funds has been allowed to languish for over a decade.
“The protracted trial of former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and his ex-Commissioner for Finance Omadachi Okolobia came up for hearing today, July 16, 2026, before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. While the court finally sat and heard the case, it was observed that Suswam was conspicuously absent, failing to appear before the court for the proceedings.
“It is deeply troubling that this case which commenced in November 2015 has now spent over 11 years in the corridors of the Federal High Court with no end in sight. The trial has been subjected to multiple judge reassignments, starting with Justice Ahmed Mohammed, then Justice Okon Abang, back to Justice Mohammed and now before Justice Peter Lifu. Each transfer has meant a fresh start, a costly and unnecessary delay that has denied the people of Benue State the justice they deserve.
“We demand answers as to why this critical stage of the trial is allowed to drift without explanation. The citizens of Benue State and indeed all Nigerians have a right to know why a case involving N3.1 billion of public funds has been allowed to languish for over a decade. The court must provide clarity on why the matter has taken this long and what steps are being taken to expedite the process,” he stated.
He emphasized that the case must be given the urgent and necessary attention it requires, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has presented its witnesses, the defence has been heard and all that remains is the adoption of final addresses.
Sa’ad noted that there is no justification for further delays, demanded a speedy trial, not the usual prolonged legal marathon that has become the hallmark of high-profile corruption cases in this country.
He called on Gabriel Suswam to fully cooperate with the judicial process and allow the case to reach its logical conclusion, saying hisfailure to appear in court today raises serious questions about his commitment to transparency and accountability.
“We demand that the adjournment date be set very close and not far into the future. This matter must not be allowed to drag on any longer. The court should fix a date that is reasonable and proximate to ensure the swift conclusion of this trial. The endless cycle of adjournments must stop.
“We urge the judiciary to uphold its integrity and ensure that this case is heard and determined without further delay. The patience of the Nigerian people is wearing thin and the fight against corruption cannot afford to be undermined by endless adjournments and procedural setbacks,” he noted.
