By Peter Duru, Makurdi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Dr. Tersoo Loko, alongside 10 others before the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi over an alleged N1.1 billion fraud.
Dr. Loko and the co-defendants including Kuleve Terlumun, Serki Manasseh, Denen Ronald, Tatyough Thaddeus, Dominic Terhember, Benjamin Igbawua, Adese Asom, Orkuma Nyiusta, Owoicho Odeh and Mhir Iyenge, were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Abubakar on a 30-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of public funds and money laundering.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly diverted funds released for the conduct of the 2020 and 2022 local government elections in Benue State, amounting to N1,665,403,100.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that Dr. Loko was arrested by its Makurdi Zonal Directorate following a petition alleging abuse of office and diversion of election funds.
“The petition alleged that while N985,403,001.74 and N680 million were released for the 2020 and 2022 local government elections respectively, only N565,039,506 was utilised for both exercises,” the EFCC stated.
The Commission further alleged that a total sum of N1,100,363,594 remained unaccounted for by the former BSIEC chairman.
One of the charges read in court stated: “That you, Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, whilst serving as Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission sometime in 2022 in Makurdi, did receive the sum of N118,166,000 from BSIEC funds, which you diverted for personal use, knowing or reasonably ought to have known that the money was proceeds of unlawful activity.”
Another count alleged that the defendant similarly diverted N110,905,000 from BSIEC funds in abuse of his office, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them. Following the plea, EFCC counsel, M. Yusuf, urged the court to grant a trial date, stating that the prosecution was ready to “prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.”
In his ruling, Justice Abubakar granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum. The judge ordered that each surety must possess a valid international passport, while the defendants were also directed to deposit their passports with the court registrar.
Pending the perfection of their bail conditions, the court ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody.
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