Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam was this morning docked before the federal high court sitting in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC over a nine-count criminal charge bordering on alleged money laundering.
He was arraigned before Justice Ahmed Mohammed alongside his erstwhile Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Omodachi Okolobia.
Both of them were alleged to have looted about N3.1billion, being proceeds of shares owned by the Benue State government and Benue Investment and Property Company Ltd.
The offence the duo allegedly committed are punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012.
The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charge against them and were released on bail by the court with the sum of N100m each.
Justice Ahmed further ordered the accused persons to produce one surety each, adding that such person must be a civil servant not below grade level 12 in either federal or state employment.
According to the court, the sureties must be ready to depose to an affidavit of means.
The court directed that in any event that the accused persons fail to secure a civil servant to stand as surety, they should produce someone with national honour to stand on their behalf.
The case has been adjourned till December 8 and 9 for trial.
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