By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA – Sixteen days after he was arrested, the Federal Government, on Friday, docked the former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a three-count criminal charge bordering on his alleged illegal possession/concealment of fire arms.

Suswam who has been in custody since June 21, was brought to court from the detention cell of the Department of State Service, DSS, for arraignment.

He was in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/97/2018, alleged to have converted 25 designer wrist watches worth millions of Naira, being property he derived from acts of corruption.

FG alleged that the former governor who piloted affairs of Benue State from 2007 to 2015, concealed arms, wrist watches, 29 rounds of 40 MBG Whinchester Ammunition and 56 Rounds of 7.66m live Ammunition, in his Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic car.

He allegedly committed a crime under section 3 of the Firearms Act Cap F28, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 27(1)(a)(1) of the same Act.

Meanwhile, the ex-governor pleaded not guilty to the charge, even as his lawyer, Mr. Paul Erokoro, SAN, persuaded the court to release him on bail pending hearing and determination of the case against him.

Erokoro, SAN, argued that the charge against his client was a bailable offence, pledging that the ex-governor would be available to attend his trial.

The bail request was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Halilu Aliu, who however urged the court to impose conditions that would ensure the attendance of the defendant to trial.

In a short ruling, trial Justice Babatunde Quadri granted Suswam bail to the tune of N500million with one surety in like sum.

The court stressed that the surety must not only be resident within the Federal Capital Territory, but must depose to an affidavit of means and submit six passport photographs.

Besides, Justice Quadri ordered the defendant to surrender his international passport to the court.

The case was subsequently adjourned till October 24 and 25 for trial.

Meantime, charges against the former governor read: “That you, Gabriel Suswam of Rio Negro, Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 24th day of February, 2017 at Dunes Investment and Properties Ltd, No. 44 Aguiyi lronsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: without lawful authority or licence, you had in your possession one(l) Gloek Pistol with Serial Number KML 275, one (1) Mini rifile with Serial Number 54976 and One(l) AK 47 with Serial Number 5622620063, which weapons were concealed in your Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic car with Registration No: BWR 135 AH and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act Cap F28, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 27(1)(a)(1) of the same Act.

“That you, Gabriel Suswam of Rio Negro, Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 24th day of February, 2017 at Dunes Investment and Properties Ltd, No. 44 Aguiyi lronsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: without lawful authority or licence, you had in your possession Twenty-Nine (29) Rounds of 40 MBG Whinchester Ammunition and Fifty-Six (56) Rounds of 7.66mm Live ammunition, which ammunition you concealed in your Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic with Registration No BWR 135 AH and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap, F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b)(ii) of the same Act.

“That you, Gbriel Suswam of Rio Negro, Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 24th day of February, 2017 at Dunes Investment and Properties Ltd, No. 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: with the aim of disguising the illicit origin, you converted Twenty five (25) designer wrist watches worth several millions of naira being properties you derived directly from corruption and concealed in your Mercedes Benz 550 4Matic with Registration No BWR 135 AH and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(1)(a)(ii) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under the same section of the Act”.