ABUBAKAR Umar, the sixth prosecution witness in the trial of former Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam, testified before the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu.
Umar recounted how, in 2014, he converted N3.1 billion sent to him by Suswam, then governor, and delivered the equivalent of $15.8 million in cash to Suswam at his Maitama residence in Abuja.
This testimony was revealed today in a statement issued by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Suswam, along with his former Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, is facing 11 amended charges of money laundering involving N3.1 billion, which allegedly came from the sale of state government shares held by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
The shares were sold through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
Umar, a bureau de change operator and CEO of Fanffash Resources, has been testifying in the case since 2018, initially before Justice A.R. Mohammed and later before Justice Okon Abang.
He stated that the funds were transferred to him in multiple tranches, starting with N413 million on August 8, 2014, which eventually totaled N3.1 billion. He confirmed that a female proxy of Suswam made the transfers.
Under the questioning of the prosecution’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Umar explained how he converted the N3.1 billion to dollars at a rate of N197 to $1 and delivered $15.8 million in cash to Suswam’s residence.
He further detailed the transaction timeline, mentioning several transfers made to his account: N637 million on September 12, 2014, followed by N363 million shortly after, N630 million on October 13, 2014, and N1.068 billion on October 17, 2014. The transfers, amounting to N3 billion, were all made by the female proxy under Suswam’s direction.
Umar clarified that he was neither arrested by the EFCC nor coerced into testifying against the defendant.
He also admitted that he had no receipts or record book for these transactions, as he relied on personal discretion for his dealings in foreign exchange.
Justice Lifu adjourned the trial to October 4, 2024, for further proceedings.
