EFCC: Suswam N3.1bn Case Nears End As Witness Testifies In Another N740m Export Fraud 

By Joseph Sunday

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recorded proceedings in two separate fraud trials at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Maitama on Wednesday adjourned the trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, to July 16, 2026, for adoption of final written addresses.

Suswam is standing trial alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia, on an amended 11-count charge bordering on theft, criminal breach of trust, illegal award of contracts and money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion.

The EFCC alleges the funds were proceeds from the sale of shares belonging to the Benue State Government in Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, and were laundered through Elixir Securities Ltd and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

The case, first filed in November 2015, has suffered multiple reassignments. It was first arraigned before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, transferred to Justice Okon Abang, returned to Mohammed, and following Mohammed’s elevation to the Court of Appeal in December 2023, reassigned to Justice Lifu for trial de novo.

The defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Lifu on March 21, 2022. The prosecution called nine witnesses. Suswam testified as the sole defence witness.

A no-case submission filed by the defence was dismissed on July 23, 2025, with Justice Lifu holding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case. The defence opened on October 10, 2025.

With the defence now closed, the 11-year trial is set for final addresses.

In a separate trial before Justice Ekerete Akpan, the case against Osabohein Alex Ologbose, CEO of Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited, and his wife, Hope Onome Oghelemu, continued with the testimony of the second prosecution witness.

The couple and their two companies are facing a seven-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, conversion of funds and money laundering involving N740 million.

PW2, Modestus Uchenna Okafor, an officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, told the court he was introduced to the scheme by one Alice Ayeni, whom he met at NEXIM Bank while making enquiries about exporting ginger and garlic.

Okafor said Ayeni presented herself as a Director and partner at Onome Global Market Resources Limited, and as a manager at NEXIM Bank. She showed him CAC, NEXIM and EFCC SCUML certificates for the company.

He said Ayeni offered him slots in a bitter kola export deal to Hong Kong, and he initially paid N620,000 for two bags.

He subsequently paid a total of N28,080,000 into Ayeni’s account for the export of bitter kola and red kola nuts to Hong Kong, China and Indonesia. Chat records and payment confirmations were tendered in evidence.

After months of failed promises, Okafor said he and other investors confronted Ayeni, who took them to Oghelemu. At a meeting of investors at Living Faith Church; Ologbose, Oghelemu and Ayeni apologised and blamed the delays on the foreign buyers.

Okafor testified that petitions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, showed there was no receiving company in Hong Kong or the other Asian countries named, and that no such shipment took place.

“That was when I concluded that I had been defrauded. Till date I have not received my investment sum or any return on investment,” he told the court.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Femi Peter Joseph, the witness confirmed payment acknowledgements by Ayeni in Exhibit B1-74, including N7m and N4.6m paid into a Fidelity Bank account belonging to Ayobola Anike Ventures Limited, and N2.38m paid by another investor he introduced, Henry Chucks.

Justice Akpan adjourned the matter to September 24, 2026, for continuation of trial.

Both cases were confirmed in separate press statements issued on July 1 by EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale