Abubakar Umar, a witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), testified that he delivered $15.8 million in cash to former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam at his Abuja residence in 2014.
Umar, a bureau de change operator, made this revelation during the ongoing trial of the former governor. He recounted how he frequently received money from Suswam through intermediaries in various installments.
While on the stand, Umar described a meeting with the former governor at his Maitama home, accompanied by a fair woman.
“One day in 2014, while I was at my office, the former governor summoned me to his house in Maitama, Abuja. Upon arrival, I found him there with a woman.
“He instructed me to provide the woman with my account number. I gave her my Zenith Bank account details, and she assured me that she would transfer money to it.
“On August 8, 2014, N413 million was deposited into my account. I subsequently contacted the former governor, who directed me to convert the funds to dollars, urging me to take my time.
“Three days later, after converting the money, I informed him that the dollars were ready. He instructed me to deliver the cash to his house in Maitama, near Jumat Mosque, and requested that I notify the security guards to allow me entry.”
Umar continued, “I took a cab to his house, introduced myself at the gate, and they opened the first and second gates for me. I waited in the reception area until the former governor arrived to meet me.
“I then presented the cash, and we confirmed it was equivalent to N413 million.
“The total amount transferred to my account was N3 billion,” he verified.
Presiding judge Peter Lifu subsequently adjourned the case to October 4, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.
According to Daily Trust, in 2020, Suswam and Omadachi Okolobia, the former finance commissioner of Benue, were re-arraigned on an 11-count indictment related to money laundering.
They faced accusations of misappropriating N3.1 billion from state funds.
The duo had initially been arraigned before Federal High Court Judge Ahmed Mohammed in 2015.
