Fresh Criminal Charge: Suswan and others to meet N25M Bail and one SH

In a fresh criminal charge, an Abuja Federal High Court yesterday granted bail to the immediate past gov­ernor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam and two others to bail in the tune of N750 million.

Suswam, his former Com­missioner of Finance, Mr Omadachi Oklobia, and the then Accountant, Benue State Government House Admin­istration, Mrs Janet Aluga, were yesterday arraigned before Justice Gabriel Ko­lawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 32-count charge over alleged diver­sion N9,781,602,453.8, part of which was earmarked for police reform programme, and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.

In a ruling on the bail re­quests filed by the defendants, the trial judge, Justice Kola­wole said: “The 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants are hereby granted bail to the tune of N250million each, and one surety each in like sum.”

The sureties, according to the court, must be a Director or Principal Officer not less than level 12 in local, state or federal establishment.

In a situation whereby the defendants fail to get a high ranking civil servant, Justice Kolawole ordered that persons with national honour shall suf­fice.