The trial of the former Governor of Benue State, Mr Gabriel Suswam and his former Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, continued in Abuja on Tuesday.
A witness presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC), Mrs Bridgid Shietu, denied knowledge of the sales of about 47 million units of shares in three tranches in 2006 by the administration of Senator George Akume.
During cross examination by the defence counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu, the witness, who was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, also denied knowledge of the sales of some shares belonging to the state government.
The witness denied the knowledge of another sales of about 2,764,800 units of Julius Berger shares in 2006 and another 12,358,650 units of AfriBank Nigeria PLC shares sold in the same month and the same year by Senator George Akume.
She, however, admitted receiving the sum of $2.2 million from the proceeds of the shares sold by Mr Suswam, as counterpart funding paid into the account of Samkalos Benue Farms Limited, which was a joint venture project between the Benue State Government and Samkalos Farms of Mexico.
The prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs, declined commenting on the trial while Mr Daudu restated the innocence of his client.
The case has been adjourned to March 2, 2016.
Mr Suswam and his former Commissioner of Finance are standing trial for an alleged criminal diversion of 3.1 billion Naira brought against him by the EFCC.
