Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suwsam and his ex-Finance Commissioner, Omadachi Oklobi lost on Monday in a bid to stop their on-going criminal trial.
The judge said he had seen a letter, written on July 5, 2019, by Justice Mohammed, detailing reasons why he recused himself from the case. The judge said Justice Mohammed complained that there was no need for him to continue with the case because if Suswam is convicted or discharged, he would be accused of bias.He noted that Justice Mohammed further said, in the letter: “So, I find it necessary to recuse myself from the case.”
Justice Abang further noted that the case could suffer more delay and justice denied if Justice Mohammed was compelled go ahead with it. Suswam and Oklobia were initially arraigned in November 2015 before Justice Mohammed of the same Federal High Court, Abuja, on the same charge. Consequently, the acting CJ reassigned the case to Justice Abang to start de novo , and action the defendants objected to.