Suswam: As governor, I went into rice, cattle trading because of low income

Former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has testified that as the governor of Benue State between 2007 and 2015, he did not steal public funds. Suswam testified on Wednesday in his defence before a Federal High Court in Abuja in the money laundering charges filed against him alongside his former Commissioner of Finance, […]

Former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has testified that as the governor of Benue State between 2007 and 2015, he did not steal public funds.

Suswam testified on Wednesday in his defence before a Federal High Court in Abuja in the money laundering charges filed against him alongside his former Commissioner of Finance, Omadachi Okolobia.

The former governor testified that although his income wage was N700,000, he made more money through large-scale rice farming with a rice mill and cattle ranch, which is permitted by the constitution for public servants.

“The office of the governor may sound big but the income is low,” he said.

Led in evidence by Mrs Chinelo Ogbozor Esq, Suswam denied receiving any funds said to be the proceeds of the state’s share of the Benue Cement Company from one Abubakar Umar or instructing him to collect that on his behalf.

Umar, a bureau de change operator and fifth prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had testified earlier that he took the sum of $15.8 million, which is N3.1 billion, to a Benue State Government Lodge in Maitama, Abuja to deliver.

“My Lord, I know Abubakar Umar, but in this particular case, I had no transaction with him regarding the facts of this case.

“At no time did I instruct him to collect the said amount, convert it and give it back to me as alleged in the charge. I have no such transaction with him,” Suswam said.

Justice Peter Lifu has adjourned the case to November 5 and 12 for hearing.