A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Department of the State Security (DSS) to produce a former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam in court on May 11.

Suswam and two others were accused of allegedly diverting N9.7 billion SURE-P  funds.

Suswam who was supposed to appear before the court on Tuesday was, however, absent, leading to the adjournment of the scheduled arraignment.

The former governor has been in the custody of the DSS since February 25.

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The prosecution said the first defendant could not be served with the charge when approached for that purpose.

“The first defendant is on administrative bail granted him by the police. When we went to serve him, we discovered that he is in the custody of the SSS. Efforts to serve him in accordance with section 2 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, failed.

“Therefore, we served his counsel, in compliance with section 379 (3) of the ACJA,” said the prosecution counsel, Aminu Halilu.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole on Tuesday, ordered the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura, to produce Suswam in court by 11.45am on May 11.