The former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam,
has been granted bail today in the sum of 500 million naira after
the Federal Government arraigned him on a fresh three-count charge, bordering
on illegal possession of firearms and money laundering before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
We learnt that the trial judge, Justice Babatunde Quadiri
said the surety, who must be a resident of the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT), should also swear to an affidavit of means and that
the surety’s residential address must be verified by officials of the court.
The surety, the court held must also submit one passport
photograph with the court as part of the bail conditions for the former
governor and adjourned the matter till October 24 and 25, 2018.
He was also accused of, converting 25 designer wrist watches
worth several millions of naira being properties he derived directly from
corruption and concealed in his vehicle thereby committed an offence contrary
to Section 15 of the Money Laundering Act.
Suswam pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge when
they were read to him. The prosecution counsel, Abubakar Alilu, prayed the
court for a date to commence trial and that the court should order the remand
of the former governor in prison pending the hearing and determination of the
charge against him.
The Federal Government, in the charge filed on June 26,
2018, accused the former governor of illegally concealing weapons in his
Mercedes Benz car with Registration at the Maitama, area of Abuja, an
offence, the Federal Government said is contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms
Act Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.
He was arraigned two weeks after the Department of
State Services (DSS) arrested him allegedly over security issues in Benue.
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