Metro
EFCC arraigns ex-Benue Electoral Chairman, 10 others over alleged ₦1.1bn fraud
Prosecutors said Loko allegedly collected N118 million in 2020 and N110.9 million in 2022.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Tersoo Loko, alongside 10 other defendants over an alleged ₦1.1 billion fraud linked to local government elections in the state.
Loko and the other defendants—Kuleve Terlumun, Mtomga Manasseh, Ugbede Denen, Tatyough Thaddeus, Angwa Dominic, Uwua Igbawua, Adese Asom Orkuma Emmanuel, Owoicho Odeh, and Mhir Iyenge—were docked before the Federal High Court in Makurdi on a 30-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of public funds and money laundering.
EFCC counsel, M. S. Yusuf, told the court that the defendants allegedly diverted funds released for the conduct of the 2020 and 2022 local government elections in Benue State.
According to the prosecution, a total sum of ₦1.6 billion was released to BSIEC for the two elections, but only ₦565 million was reportedly utilised for the polls, leaving about ₦1.1 billion allegedly unaccounted for.
Yusuf alleged that Loko, while serving as chairman of the electoral commission, personally received several cash payments from BSIEC and diverted the funds for private use.
He said the former chairman allegedly collected ₦118 million in cash in 2020 and another ₦110.9 million in 2022, both recorded as official payments made to him by the commission.
The EFCC maintained that the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their pleas, the prosecution requested an adjournment to enable it to open its case.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice M. S. Abubakar, granted the defendants bail in the sum of ₦50 million each, with one surety in like sum.
The court ordered that the sureties must possess valid international passports, while the defendants were directed to deposit their passports with the court registrar.
Justice Abubakar adjourned the case to April 24 for hearing and ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
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