Suswam’s Alleged N3.1b Fraud: Court Adjourns Trial Till July 16

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, adjourned the trial of the former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam till July 16, 2026 for adoption of final written addresses, as the 11-year-old case goes on the home stretch.
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Suswam, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omadachi Okolobia is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on amended 11-count charge, bordering on theft, criminal breach of trust, illegal award of contracts and money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion, being proceeds from the sale of the state government’s shares in Benue Cement Company.

Both defendants allegedly committed the fraud, using Elixir Securities Ltd and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

While the EFCC has called nine witnesses who testified against the defendants, Suswam turned out to be the sole witness for his defence team.

The defendants were first arraigned in November 2015 before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, then of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. The matter was transferred to Justice Okon Abang, who was also of the Abuja Federal High Court, before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

The case was later brought back to Justice Mohammed, following a ruling of the Court of Appeal. The prosecution was at the point of closing its case in December 2023, under Justice Mohammed, when the judge was elevated to the Court of Appeal and the matter was reassigned to Justice Lifu for a fresh start of the trial.

Federal High Court

Thus, the defendants’ re-arraignment on Thursday, March 21, 2022, marked their second arraignment before Justice Lifu. Though both defendants opted for a no-case submission, after the testimonies of the nine prosecution witnesses, Justice Lifu on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 dismissed the no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case warranting him and his co-defendant to defend themselves against the charges.

They commenced their defence on October 10, 2025.
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FG Flags Off Construction Of Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri SuperHighway, Commission Akwanga Township Dual Carriageway And Underpass

The Federal Government has officially flagged off the construction of Section One of the 700-kilometre Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu—Maiduguri Superhighway, reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR’s commitment to delivering transformative infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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The flag-off ceremony, held on the 1st July, 2026, in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, where the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was represented by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, stated that the project is one of the President’s four Renewed Hope Legacy Road Projects, designed to transform Nigeria’s transportation network, strengthen national integration, improve security, facilitate trade, and stimulate economic growth across the North-Central and North-East geopolitical zones.

The first phase of the project covers approximately 125 kilometres from Akwanga in Nasarawa State to Jos in Plateau State and forms part of the larger 700-kilometre, six-lane, continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) superhighway stretching through Nasarawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno States.
The President’s representative praised the Minister of Works for his exceptional leadership and dedication to transforming Nigeria’s road sector, describing him as one of the administration’s most outstanding performers.
He described the Minister of Works as “the shining light of the Renewed Hope Administration.”

Speaking at the ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. Sen. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, disclosed that the project is a landmark investment that will improve connectivity, reduce travel time, enhance road safety, lower transportation costs, create jobs, and unlock the region’s economic potential. He explained that the Akwanga–Maiduguri Superhighway is one of four legacy highway corridors being implemented simultaneously by the Federal Government, alongside the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto–Badagry, and the Calabar–Abuja (Trans Sahara) Superhighways.

The Minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to CRCP technology to ensure greater durability, lower maintenance costs, and a lifespan of up to 100 years. He commended President Tinubu for his untiring support for infrastructure development and urged the contractor to deliver quality work, while engaging local communities through employment, skills acquisition, and technology transfer.

The President’s representative also commissioned the newly completed Akwanga Township Dual Carriageway and Underpass, executed by the Nasarawa State Government under the leadership of the Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, CON. He commended him for complementing the Federal Government’s infrastructure drive through strategic investments in road development across the state.

In his Welcome Address, the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., stated that the Superhighway would serve as a major transportation corridor linking North-Central and North-East Nigeria, while facilitating trade, agriculture, investment, and national security.

Also speaking at the well-attended event, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammad Idris, highlighted the Federal Government’s unprecedented investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic reforms, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering tangible benefits across all sectors and the country.

The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, described the project as another demonstration of the administration’s commitment to inclusive development, noting that investments in infrastructure are being complemented by programmes supporting businesses, women, and youth development.

Governor Sule expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the project, describing it as a strategic national corridor that will connect communities, boost commerce, and attract investments across the region.

Speaking on behalf of the benefiting states, Governor Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau State said the commencement of the project is the fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration of the people of the region and commended the Federal Government for making its promise a reality.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, stated that the project represents a new era in highway development in Nigeria and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to quality delivery, transparency, and value for money.

The Managing Director of CGC (Nig.) Ltd., Engr. Zhong Xiang assured the Federal Government, the State Governors on the road’s corridor, and all Nigerians of the company’s readiness to deliver the project safely, professionally, on schedule, and in accordance with international standards and best practices.

Akwanga

The Federal Ministry of Works reaffirmed its commitment to delivering strategic road infrastructure that will strengthen national unity, promote inclusive economic growth, and improve the quality of life of Nigerians, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Administration of President Tinubu, GCFR.

Mohammed A. Abdullahi
Director, Information and Public Relations.
2 June, 2026.
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Alleged N1.4bn Fraud: Court Admits More Evidence Against Nadabo Energy Boss, Firm In Lagos

Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, admitted in evidence more documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the alleged N1.4 billion petroleum subsidy fraud involving the Managing Director of Nadabo Energy Limited, Abubakar Ali Peters, and his company.
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Peters alongside his company, Nadabo Energy Limited, was previously standing trial before Justice C.A. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja. However, the matter was re-assigned to Justice Ijelu, following Justice Balogun’s retirement.

The defendants are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 27-count charge bordering on the alleged use of forged documents to obtain the sum of N1,464,961,978.24 from the Federal Government as oil subsidy.

One of the counts reads: “Nadabo Energy Limited and Abubakar Ali Peters, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2012, at Lagos, within the Lagos Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N978,401,732.09 (Nine Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million Four Hundred and One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty-two Naira Nine Kobo) from the Federal Government of Nigeria by falsely claiming that the sum represented subsidy accrued to Nadabo Energy Limited under the Petroleum Support Fund for the importation of 19,488,992 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which Nadabo Energy Limited purported to have purchased from Ashland SA Geneva Switzerland, and transported the 19,488,992 litres of PMS through MT American Express (Mother Vessel) and MT St. Vanessa (Daughter Vessel) to Nigeria, whereas Nadabo Energy Limited only imported 6,505,140.04 litres of PMS to Nigeria through MT Evridiki (Mother Vessel) and MT St Vanessa (Daughter Vessel).”

Another count reads: “Nadabo Energy Limited and Abubakar Ali Peters, on or about the 25th day of October 2011, at Lagos, within the Lagos Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, and in order to facilitate your obtaining money by false pretence from the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF), forged a document titled: Certificate of Marine Insurance no. 0047851 and purported the Marine Insurance certificate to have been issued by Staco Insurance Plc to Nadabo Energy Limited.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

At the resumed sitting on Monday, June 29, 2026, the prosecution counsel, S. K. Atteh, called the third prosecution witness, PW3, Adaobi Amanda Obiakor, an EFCC investigator, who narrated how the Commission investigated the alleged subsidy fraud.

Obiakor told the court that the investigation commenced after the EFCC received petitions dated January 5, 2012, from the Minister of Petroleum Resources and some civil society organisations alleging widespread fraud in the petroleum subsidy scheme.

She identified several letters written by the EFCC to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), requesting documents relating to marketers involved in the subsidy regime, including Nadabo Energy Limited.

The witness stated that the PPPRA supplied a bundle of documents that formed part of the Commission’s investigation.

The prosecution tendered the petitions, correspondence with the PPPRA, and the agency’s responses. The defence counsel, Paul Daodu, SAN, raised no objection, and Justice Ijelu admitted the documents in evidence.

Obiako further testified that analysis of the documents revealed an allocation granted to the defendant in August 2011 and subsequent import permits. She stated that the documents indicated that the transaction was financed by Enterprise Bank, prompting the EFCC to write to the bank on February 8, 2012.

According to the witness, Enterprise Bank, in its response dated February 18, 2013, informed the Commission that one of the documents attached to the EFCC’s inquiry did not emanate from the bank and supplied what it described as the authentic document.

The prosecution tendered the correspondence between the EFCC and Enterprise Bank, together with the bank’s certified true copies of relevant documents.

The defence did not object, and the court admitted them as exhibits.

The witness also told the court that the EFCC traced subsidy payments made by the PPPRA through Sky Bank Plc, now Polaris Bank.

She also identified letters written by the Commission to the bank on December 5, 2012, and February 8, 2013, as well as the bank’s responses dated February 4 and February 20, 2013.

The documents, together with related banking instruments, were tendered by the prosecution without objection from the defence and were admitted in evidence.

The Bank documents revealed the following, MT EVRIDIKI, 35, 291,069 Metric tone and 47,882,120 liters on 29 October, 2011. MT ST VANESSA, 4,850,962 Metric tone on 2 December, 2011.

The trader is Petrolcam Trading (PTY) Limited on SPG/DLC/11/003 dated 27 October, 2011 valued at $4,780,125 with drawing amount of $5,087, 203.85. The marketer is Nadabo Energy Limited.

Further documents admitted included correspondence between the EFCC and Petrocam, shipping documents supplied by the company, letters exchanged with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), certified true copies of company documents, and correspondence with the PPPRA.

The prosecution also tendered an email from one Afeni Awani to Abdulrasheed Bawa, the immediate past chairman of the EFCC, during the investigations accompanied by a certificate of identification.

Although the defence counsel, Daodu, objected to the admissibility of the email, arguing that it was sent to Bawa’s personal email address and did not comply with Section 84 of the Evidence Act governing electronically generated evidence, Justice Ijelu overruled the objection and admitted the email and accompanying certificate in evidence.

The court also admitted a summary of the transactions prepared by Bawa as well as the extra-judicial statements of the defendants.

Following the conclusion of the examination-in-chief, defence counsel informed the court that cross-examination of the witness would commence at the next sitting.

Justice Ijelu subsequently adjourned till Tuesday, June 30, 2026 for the defence to cross- examine the witness.

During the cross-examination at Tuesday’s sitting, the witness confirmed that she was one of the members of the investigative team that handled the case.

However, when shown the investigation report already admitted in evidence, she acknowledged that although it contained a summary of the team’s findings, her name did not appear on the document.

The witness also identified Exhibit P27, a letter dated January 20, 2012, addressed to the Managing Director of Nadabo Energy Limited.

She told the court that the letter was prepared and signed by Olaolu Adegbite.

On Exhibit P29(a), the extra-judicial statement of the second defendant, the witness admitted that there was no indication on the document showing it was recorded in his presence.

Court

She, however, maintained that the statement, obtained on January 28, 2012, and February 8, 2013, was made voluntarily. She further confirmed that no legal practitioner was present when the statement was taken.

The witness also told the court that she was not the maker of Exhibit P8, a letter dated June 21, 2012, and was not authorised to sign it. She equally stated that she did not prepare Exhibit P10.

When asked whether any of the documentary exhibits tendered before the court, apart from his oral testimony, showed that she was a member of the investigation team, the witness responded that her name did not appear on any of the documents.

Obiakor said she participated in the investigative visit to the Lagos depot, but did not take part in the team’s visit to the Port Harcourt depot.

Justice Ijelu subsequently adjourned the matter till October 12 and 13, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
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