Ex-Benue Electoral Boss, 10 Others Remanded Over Alleged ₦1.1 Billion Fraud
The Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, presided over by Justice M.S. Abubakar, has ordered the remand of the former Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, alongside ten others, in connection with alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to ₦1.1 billion.
On Wednesday, Loko and his co‑defendants were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 30‑count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering.
The other defendants 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, Mhir Iyenge
The defendants were arrested by the EFCC’s Makurdi Zonal Directorate following a petition alleging large‑scale diversion of funds released for the conduct of local government elections in 2020 and 2022.
According to the petition, sums of ₦985,403,001.74 and ₦680 million were released for the elections. However, only ₦565,039,506 was allegedly expended, leaving ₦1,100,363,594 unaccounted for.
One of the charges against Loko reads:
“That you, Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, whilst serving as Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, sometime in 2022 in Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, abused your office by directly receiving a cash payment of ₦118,166,000 from BSIEC funds, which you diverted for your personal use, knowing or reasonably ought to have known that the money represented proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal misappropriation and abuse of public office.”
Another count alleges that Loko diverted ₦110,905,000 from commission funds, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Counsel to the EFCC, M.S. Yusuf, thereafter urged the court to fix a trial date to enable the prosecution to present its case.
In his ruling, Justice Abubakar granted bail to each defendant in the sum of ₦50 million, with one surety in like sum. The court directed that each surety must possess a valid international passport, to be deposited with the court registrar. The defendants were also ordered to surrender their own international passports.
Pending the perfection of bail conditions, Justice Abubakar ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody.
