Crime
I handed over $15.8m to Suswam at his residence in Maitama – Witness insists
The fourth prosecution witness in the trial a former governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abubakar Umar, on March 24, 2021 narrated how he handed over the sum of $15.8m to the former governor at his Maitama residence, Abuja.
Recall that the witness, a Bureau De Change Operator and CEO of Fanffash Resources, has been in the witness box since 2018. At a stage in the trail, he was declared hostile, after he recanted on the statement he volunteered to the EFCC, while being led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs SAN. In his statement before the EFCC, he wrote that he took the money to the governor at his residence in Maitama Abuja but changed the narrative in court, by stating that he took the money to the Government House in Benue State.
At today’s hearing, the PW4, reaffirmed his earliest statement to the EFCC. He disclosed that he received calls from associates of Suwam threatening him to change his statement in Court. “I changed my statement because of the pressure I received from Suswam’s people,” he said.
When asked by prosecution counsel, what the ex-governor’s allies wanted him to change, he told the court that they wanted him to change where and who he gave the dollar equivalent of N3.1 billion.
Umar further revealed that “I don’t know Elixir but sometime in August 2014, Suswam called me to his house in Maitama and introduced me to a lady and asked me to give her my account details.
“Suswam said when I see the money, I should give him the Dollar equivalent which I did, amounting to $15.8m while using N197 as exchange rate. I handed over the Dollars in cash to Suswam at his residence in Abuja.”
Umar told the court that he never mentioned that he handed over the money to Suswam at Kubwa but Maitama.
The witness said his company, Fanffash Resources, has no relationship with the Benue State Government, and that he also has no business or contract with Elixir Investment Partners Limited and does not know where they are.
The matter has been adjourned till May 25, 2021 for continuation of trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, re-arraigned the former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia on November 2, 2020 before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja for fraud.
Both were docked on amended 11-count charges, bordering on theft, criminal breach of trust, illegal award of contracts and money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion.
By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna
Kaduna state Police Command, has confirmed the abduction of two Kaduna based Journalists, Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe and Abdulraheem Aodu of The Nations and Blue print newspapers respectively.
The bandits in their large numbers, late Saturday night, stormed Danhonu community in the Millennium City of Chikun local government area of Kaduna State and abducted the journalists alongside their wives and children.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Kaduna State Command ASP Mansur Hassan said that his men are still in the bush, adding that all efforts are in place to rescue the victims unhurt.
Alhaji Alabelewe is the current chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council.
A family member of one of the victims, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits stormed the community at about 10:30pm on Saturday night and started shooting sporadically before carrying out kidnap.
He said they kidnapped Alhaji Alabelewe, his wife and two of his children, while Alhaji Aodu and his wife were kidnapped, leaving behind their sick daughter.
“Initially, they picked Alhaji Abdulgafar, his wife and three of his children and a girl staying with them before asking the girl to return back with one of the children, leaving with Abdulgafar, his wife and two children.
“They shattered their doors, windows and removed their burglary after scaling the fence,” he narrated.
Olayemi, who is a family member of Mr Aodu and lives close to the victims’ houses, further said: “they came around 10:30pm on Saturday night and started shooting sporadically. They first forced Aodu’s door open and picked him and his wife and left their sick daughter behind.
“Then, they entered Abdulgafar’s house through the fence and jumped into his house. They went straight into his bedroom and picked him, his wife and two of their kids and left immediately, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air.”
Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for special clearance operation in Sambisa Forest, have eliminated 11 Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement on its official X Handle disclosed this on Saturday.
It said the feat was achieved in a coordinated special clearance operations with a hybrid force on terrorists’ enclave in Jongo Village within the notorious Sambisa Forest.
It said that the troops targeted the enclave, engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, killing some while others fled in disarray.
The army said its troops further conducted exploitation ahead of the enclave, leading to the capture of some arms.
According to the post, the arms include 99 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm on metal link, 19 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 3 AK-47 rifle magazines, two 36 Hand grenades, and two locally made guns.
“This successful operation showcases the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian army in combating terrorism and securing in the region.
“The neutralisation of ISWAP terrorists and the confiscation of their weapons will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing security and stability in the area.
“This further demonstrated the commitment of the Nigerian military to eradicating terrorism and protecting the citizens,” it said.
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