The trial of former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan and his commissioner of Finance, Okolobia Okpanachi resumed on Monday, February 15, as a prosecution witness told the court how N1 billion was laundered by the governor.

The witness, Brijid Shiedie, MD/CEO, Benue Investment and Property Company Limited told the court presided over by Justice A. R. Mohammed, that a payment of N1 billion was reportedly made to Elixir Security Limited at the request of Okpanachi.

The former governor and his commissioner are on trial for a nine-count charge bordering on diversion of N3.1 billion from the public accounts of the state when he was governor.

The prosecution witness testified to the court that Elixir was asked by the state government to audit where the state’s shares were domiciled and bring them into one stockbroking company.

She further stated that in order to achieve the assignment given to Elixir, the government had needed BIPCL as the custodian of the shares to sign.

Shiedie also told the court that both Suswan and Okpanachi directed BIPCL to pay Elixir the proceeds of Benue State shares, into two accounts provided by the ministry of finance letter head.

She however, disclosed that no specific amount was stated in the instructions given for the payment.

“When Elixir called me to find out what was to be paid into each of the accounts, I said that since the money was going to the Benue State government, a request should be forwarded to the Commissioner of Finance. It was communicated on the Company’s letter head.”

Joseph Daudu, SAN, the defence counsel requested the court to adjourn the case to enable him cross-examine the witness as she is crucial to the case.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to Tuesday, February 16.