The trial of a former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, and the Commissioner of Finance in his administration, Omadachi Okolobia, has been adjourned to Wednesday for continuation of trial by Justice A.R Mohammed of the Federal High Court FCT Abuja.
The defendants are on trial on an amended 11-count charge of money laundering in the amount of N3.1 billion.
At a resumption of the hearing on Tuesday, prosecution counsel O.A Atolagbi, who was holding the brief of Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for continuation of trial and cross-examination of the 5th prosecution witness, PW5.
The first and second defendants were represented by J. B. Daudu, SAN, and Paul Erokoro, SAN.
Mrs. Mshelia Clara-Whyte, an investment banker with Investment Partners, Daudu SAN, asked the witness during cross-examination whether the company she worked for was registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. She said no, but added that it was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
On his part, Erokoro asked the witness whether her firm normally reports suspicious transactions to relevant agencies.
“We are bound by the rules of the financial market to report any transaction, suspicious or not, that is above five million naira to NFIU and SEC, and we send the report every Friday.
“But on this particular transaction, we did not report it as suspicious but rather, as an activity,” she stated.
Justice Mohammed adjourned the trial till tomorrow, May 24, 2023 for continuation of trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is accusing the duo of allegedly diverting the money, which was said to be part of the proceeds of the sale of shares of Benue State in a company, to their personal use.
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