Alleged N3.1bn fraud: Witness recounts he delivered $15.8m to former Gov Suswam at his residence
Abubakar Umar, the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) in the trial of former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, has detailed how he delivered $15.8 million in cash to Suswam at his Maitama, Abuja residence.
The funds, according to Umar, were converted from N3.1 billion wired to him by Suswam during his tenure as governor in 2014.
The trial, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, involves Suswam and his former Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia.
The duo faces 11 amended charges of money laundering related to the N3.1 billion, which came from the sale of the Benue State government’s shares through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
Umar, a bureau de change operator and CEO of Fanffash Resources, testified that the N3.1 billion was transferred to him in multiple tranches.
He stated that the first tranche of N413 million was deposited in his account on August 8, 2014, with subsequent transfers completing the total amount.
While being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Umar confirmed that a woman, acting as Suswam’s proxy, facilitated the transfers.
He explained how he converted the N3.1 billion to dollars, amounting to $15.8 million, at an exchange rate of N197 to the dollar, and delivered it to Suswam at his residence.
“One day in 2014, when I was in the office, the former governor of Benue State asked me to meet him in his house in Maitama, Abuja,” Umar testified. “I went and met him together with a fair woman. He asked me to give her my account number, and shortly after, the funds were transferred.”
Umar detailed how he converted the funds into dollars and personally delivered the cash to Suswam at his Maitama residence on several occasions, totaling $15.8 million.
He further stated that he had no receipts or official records of the transactions, claiming he conducted the currency exchanges with fellow retailers based on discretion.
Justice Lifu adjourned the trial until October 4, 2024, for continuation.
