Gabriel Suswam

Gabriel Suswam, the former governor of Benue State currently being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is in fresh trouble.

Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services, DSS said on Sunday that it impounded two exotic vehicles which it later discovered were owned by former governor.

However, DSS said searches conducted on the vehicles revealed many incriminating items.

DSS listed the items discovered in the booths of the two exotic vehicles to include three different types of guns, ammunitions, 21 Certificates of Occupancy, one Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy 23 Luxury designer watches; and 45 keys to various exotic cars.

Tony Opuiyo, spokesperson for the DSS who revealed this on Sunday said the vehicles were discovered when operatives of secret police executed a search warrant at the property of Dunes Investment and Global Properties Ltd, located at  Maitama area of Abuja.

The DSS statement partly reads: “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 25th February, 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:

1. Twenty-one (21) Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and one (1) Offer of Statutory Right of

Occupancy;

1. 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 SUSWAN who has already been invited by the Service and presently helping in the investigations.

“It is in the light of this latest development that the Service wishes to sound a note of warning to persons and groups that it will no longer tolerate any acts of lawlessness by those who ought to be law abiding and responsible citizens.

“The Service has also observed with total dismay the inciting utterances of some political actors whose activities heat-up the polity.

“It also wishes to express its disappointment with these politicians who, in their desperation, are engaged in hate speeches and even sponsorship of radio campaign jingles when the electoral umpire has not authorized such campaigns in line with the Electoral Act.

“More worrisome is the unpatriotic involvement of some media outfits in these divisive tendencies which negate their constitutional role as the fourth estate of the realm.

“In line with its statutory mandate of maintaining the peace and internal security of the country, the Service hereby restates its commitment to go after anyone no matter how highly placed who engages in acts capable of causing the breach of peace in the country.”