The Federal Government on Thursday arraigned 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 of fire arms and money laundering.

Suswan, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) was brought to the court premises  under tight security.

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

Suswam pleaded not guilty to the charges and was consequently granted bail by Justice Babatunde Quadri to the tune of ₦500million with one surety in like sum. According to the court, the surety must be resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ‎and must depose to an affidavit of means.

‎The counts 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.

“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 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, 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 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.