The Federal Government has arraigned a former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, before a court in Abuja, the nation’s capital, according to a report by Channels Television.
Suswam was arraigned in court on Friday on three counts of illegal possession of firearms.
Recall that the Department of State Service, had last month arrested Suswan over an alleged connection with the killings in the state.
The report made public by Vanguard had revealed that he was invited by the agency over a petition by a high ranking politician, alleging that he (Suswam) was habouring Mr. Terwase Akwaza, a.k.a ‘Ghana’.
Police had declared Akwaza wanted, following the killing of about 17 people in Zaki Biam, Benue State, in March last year. He had also been alleged to be part of those behind incessant killings in many Benue villages.
It was gathered that working on the petition by the top politician, the DSS, which had arrested Suswam in February last year, placed him on a closer watch until he was invited on Tuesday and had since been held in custody.
Suswam’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), it was learned, went to the DSS office to see him, yesterday, but was not allowed access.
When he was arrested last year, the DSS said arms and ammunition and other incriminating items were recovered in some exotic cars in a complex which it claimed belonged to the former governor.
In a statement issued by Tony Opuiyo, DSS said then that it raided the building at 44, Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, and recovered keys of 45 exotic cars, 21 Certificates of Occupancy, arms and ammunition.
The statement had read: “The Department of State Services, DSS, wishes to inform the public that on February 24, 2017, between 2100 hours and 0242 hours, the service executed a search warrant, at the property of Dunes Investment and Global Properties Ltd, located at No 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama-Abuja.
“The operation was informed by intelligence that some incriminating items were stashed in the boots of cars parked at the property, particularly a Mercedes Benz S550 (BWR 135AH), and Masarati 4.7 (BWR 207 AJ), which were subsequently confiscated.”
“Consequently, on February 25, 2017, about 1000hours, in the presence of two (2) private security officers employed by Dunes Investment, the cars were searched and the following items were recovered
‘’Weapons: (i) glock pistol with two (2) magazines and a total of Twenty-Nine (29) rounds of ammunition; (ii) mini-Uzi with two (2) magazines containing 10 rounds and 4 rounds respectively; (iii) forty-two (42) extra rounds of ammunition contained in a pack; and (iv) One (1) AK-47.
“Other items recovered include: i. Twenty-one (21) Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and one (1) Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy; ii. Twenty-three (23) Luxury designer watches; and iii. Forty-five (45) keys to various exotic cars.
“Following this discovery, the Service launched further investigation which revealed that the cars and the recovered items belong to the former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam who has already been invited by the Service and presently helping in the investigations.”
Following last year’s arrest Mr. Suswam was held in DSS custody for over two months and had to sue the organization before he was granted an administrative bail.
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