A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the Department of State Service to produce former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam in court on May 11 for his arraignment.
The Federal Government had accused Suswam and two others of diverting N9.7bn being part of funds from the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme.
The fund was allegedly diverted between 2012 and 2015 while Suswam was the governor of the state.
The other defendants facing the 32-count charge are the former Commissioner of Finance, Mr Omadachi Oklobia and former Accountant, Benue State Government House, Mrs Janet Aluga.
The arraignment was, however, stalled following Suswam’s absence in court.
Suswam and Oklobia are also standing trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on different matter bordering on embezzlement of state funds.
Suswam is currently in the custody of the DSS over another matter bordering on an allegation of illegal arms possession.
Mr Aminu Alilu, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that Suswam could not be served with the charge because he (Suswam) was being held by the DSS.
“Efforts to serve him in accordance with Section 2 (3) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act failed, therefore we served his counsel in compliance with Section 379 (3) of the ACJA, instead,” he said
Alilu further said the prosecution also made futile attempt to serve the ex-governor through the DSS.
“We have a letter to that effect and the acknowledged copy by the office of the DSS,’’ he said.
Mr Adedayo Adedeji, counsel to Suswam on other matters, said the prosecution misled the court to submit that Suswan refused to be served.
“Yesterday at about 3: p.m. two officers from the police walked into our office, seeking to serve Suswam, but because of respect for this court, we received it.
“Our objection is that being an originating summons, the first defendant ought to have been served personally.
“The fact that we are representing him in another matter does not mean that we must represent him in all of his cases. We were never briefed by Suswam to represent him in this case.
“It cannot now be correct to say that Suswan refused to be served, we submit that in the absence of the first defendant, this matter cannot go on,” he said.
The judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, therefore, instructed the DSS to ensure Suswam was present in court in the next adjourned date.
The judge ordered that Oklobia and Aluga should still enjoy their administrative bail
Justice Kolawole subsequently adjourned the matter till May 11 for the arraignment of the defendants.
PUNCH
