Former Benue state Gov. Suswam granted N100m bail

After being arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja this morning for allegedly diverting state funds, former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, has been granted bail but...
ordered to be held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, till he fulfils his bail conditions.

The former governor and his commissioner for finance, Mr. Omadaki Oklobia, are being charged by the EFCC on nine count charges of fraud and financial misappropriation to which they pleaded not guilty. With regards to the bail, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, stated that he did not object to the application for bail requested by the defence counsel, Ahmed Raji but opposed Mr. Raji’s request that the bail be given on self-recognition and without conditions saying that former governors jumped bail in the past. “It is common knowledge that Mr. Ibori jumped bail,” Mr. Jacobs reportedly said, referring to a former Delta State governor, James Ibori, who is serving jail term in the UK.
The Court however, ruled that the first and second defendants be granted bail on the conditions of a N100 million bond and two sureties who must be senior civil servants of level 12 and above, or any person occupying a national office. He also ordered that the international passports of the two accused be submitted to the court registrar.