Trial: EFCC accuses Suswam of tampering with witness statement

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has applied to tender a document showing that former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam tampered with the evidence of its witness.

Suswam and former commissioner for finance, Omodachi Okolobia are facing nine count charges of money laundering involving the sum of N3.1 billion Benue State government fund.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) alleged that the former governor reached the witness, Abubakar Umar, a Bureau De Change operator, to enable him change an earlier statement at the commission’s office.

Umar had on May 5, 2017, narrated before the court how he helped the former governor to convert N3.1billion into dollars between August and October 2014.

Umar who is the 4th Prosecution witness, had said he converted the money which he said amounted to $15.8million, and took same to Suswam at the Government House in Makurdi.

However, the prosecuting lawyer said Umar had in his extra-judicial statement before the EFCC said the converted money was handed to Suswam at his Maitama residence in Abuja. Jacobs said the twist in the statement was due to pressures from agents of the former governor.

But defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN) object to the admissibility of the document on the grounds that the original was made in Hausa, adding that the witness did not personally sign it as it was signed by his brother-in-law, one Yakubu Idris.

Earlier, EFCC had sought to declare Umar ‘a hostile witness’ on allegations he changed his initial statement.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the case to March 14 for ruling on the document.