SAN FRANCISCO, April 03, (THEWILL) – Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, is still battling to be granted bail after spending over one month in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
THEWILL recalls that the DSS is investigating the ex-governor for alleged link with a militia leader, Terwaze Akwazza (a.k.a Gana) who has held three local governments, Logo, Katsina-Ala and Ukum, captive in Benue State.
The continued detention of the former governor is said to be for security reasons while the recent invasion of Zaki-Biam by unknown armed men was said to have fuelled the decision of the DSS to hold on to Suswam.
The Benue State government had referred the report of the Commission of Inquiry against Suswam and 51 others to the DSS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
The over 240 pages report alleged that Suswam and many of his appointees, including civil servants, mismanaged the resources while the panel recommended that 52 individuals and 10 corporate bodies should refund over N107 billion to the government.
It also recommended deeper investigations and possible refund of over N44 billion from transactions it found not to be in compliance with the financial guidelines adding that from the N1. 21 trillion accrued to the state from about 27 identified sources, N802 billion was appropriated and N219 billion was expended but not appropriated.
The former governor, a former Commissioner, a former Special Adviser on Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs and two former permanent secretaries, and a former accountant of the Bureau were alleged to have diverted local government funds amounting to N51, 559,859,968.00 into personal use.
Meanwhile, Suswam is facing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja for an alleged N3.1bn fraud relating to the issue raised by the Justice Kpojime-led probe panel.
THEWILL further gathered that apart from responding to about six petitions, a major claim against Suswam is the rampaging activities of Terwaze Akwazza (a.k.a Gana) and his boys which have been giving the state government a sleepless night.
There are some intelligence reports that the ex-governor has a link with the militia leader and it might pose a ‘grave security risk’ to release him. But the ex-governor has denied any relationship with the militia leader, said there was no way he could locate Akwazza.
However, sources say that with the evidence at hand, there is no way Suswam will not be prosecuted for fraud-related cases as the allegations against him are multi-dimensional.
THEWILL also gathered that counsel to the former governor, Mr. J.B. Daudu (SAN), has been shuttling between his base in Kaduna and Abuja to secure bail for his client and was in Abuja on Monday to press for his bail.
Meanwhile, some Benue State leaders are pushing for his release as some of the ex-governor’s supporters suspect that he is being detained because of the forthcoming June 3 local government poll.
A source close to the family said revealed that Suswam is already dejected in custody having been abandoned by his kinsmen and associates but has received support from Mark and some other leaders from Benue State, some of whom have visited him in detention.
Meanwhile, ex-Senate President, David Mark, in an emotional letter to Suswam, urging him not to be dispirited by the situation saying that as a Catholic, he could only support the ex-governor with prayers.
