EFCC arraigns ex-BSEIC Chairman, 10 others over alleged N1.1bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned a former Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSEIC), Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, alongside ten others before the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi over an alleged N1.1 billion fraud.

Those standing trial with him are Kuleve Kelvin Terlumun, Serki Mtomga Manasseh, Ugbede Denen Ronald, Tatyough Thaddeus, Angwa Dominic Terhember, Uwua Benjamin Igbawua, Adese Asom, Orkuma Emmanuel Nyiusta, Owoicho Odeh and Mhir Iyenge.

They were brought before Justice M. S. Abubakar on a 30-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of public funds and money laundering amounting to N1.1bn.

The EFCC disclosed that Dr. Loko was arrested by its Makurdi Zonal Directorate following a petition submitted against the defendants.

According to the petition, the former BSEIC chairman allegedly abused his office by diverting funds released for the conduct of the 2020 and 2022 local government elections in Benue State.

The petition stated that N985,403,001.74 was released for the 2020 election, while N680,000,000 was made available for the 2022 polls.

It was further alleged that only N565,039,506 was expended on both elections out of the total sum of N1,665,403,100 released, leaving N1,100,363,594 allegedly unaccounted for.

One of the charges reads:

“That you Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko (whilst in your capacity as Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSEIC, “M” sometime in 2022 in Makurdi within the jurisdiction of this honourable court in abuse of your office, did directly received cash payment of the sum (N118,166,000.00, (One Hundred and Eighteen Million, One Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand) from Benue State Independent Electoral Commission funds with BSEIC recorded as recipient/ payee which you diverted for your personal use when you knew as reasonably ought to have known that the said money represented the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation and abuse of public office and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5(2) (b) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and Punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Another charge states:

“That you, Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, (Whilst in your capacity as Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission BSEIC) “M” sometime in 2022 in Makurdi within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court in abuse of your office, did directly received cash payment of the sum of N110,905,000 (One Hundred and Ten Million, Nine Hundred and Five Thousand Naira) from Benue State Independent Electoral Commission funds with BSEIC recorded as recipient/ payee which you diverted for your personal use when you knew or reasonably out to have known that the said money represented the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation and abuse of public office and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the money laundering (Prohibition ) Act, 2011as amended in 2012 and Punishable under Section 15(3) of same Act.”*

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their pleas, EFCC counsel, M. S. Yusuf, urged the court to fix a trial date to enable the prosecution prove its case.

In his ruling, Justice Abubakar granted each defendant bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.

The court ordered that the surety must possess a valid international passport, while each defendant is to deposit his or her passport with the court registrar.

The judge also ordered that the defendants be remanded pending the perfection of their bail conditions.