A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has pushed forward the N3.1 billion fraud trial of Gabriel Suswam, the former Governor of Benue State, rescheduling the next hearing for July 16, 2026.

This next phase will focus on the adoption of final written addresses from both sides, pushing the long-running, 11-year legal battle closer to a final verdict.

Justice Peter Lifu finalized the mid-July date following a court session at the Maitama division, following an update shared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detailing the current status of the prosecution.

Suswam is being prosecuted alongside Omadachi Okolobia, who served as his Commissioner for Finance. The two individuals face an amended 11-count charge that encompasses money laundering, illegal contract awards, theft, and criminal breach of trust. The core of the allegation centers on N3.1 billion generated from selling off Benue State Government shares originally held in the Benue Cement Company.

The EFCC maintains that the financial irregularities were funneled through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

The case has a winding legal history, having first started with an initial arraignment back in November 2015 before Justice Ahmed Mohammed. Over the decade, the matter bounced from Justice Mohammed to Justice Okon Abang, and then back to Justice Mohammed via a Court of Appeal directive. When Justice Mohammed moved up to the Court of Appeal in 2023, the case landed on Justice Peter Lifu’s desk to start de novo.

Justice Lifu eventually rejected a “no-case” submission by the defense on July 23, 2025, stating the EFCC had enough initial evidence to warrant a full trial.

This led the defense to formally open its case on October 10, 2025, featuring Suswam testifying as the only witness for his side, contrasting the nine witnesses brought forward by the EFCC. The matter has now officially entered its final stage ahead of the July 16 date.