EFCC arraigns ex-Benue electoral commission chairman, 10 others on N1.1bn fraud charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned former Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Tersoo Loko, and 10 others over alleged N1.1 billion fraud.

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The anti-graft agency arraigned the defendants at the Federal High Court in Makurdi, on 30 counts of criminal misappropriation of public funds and money laundering.

It listed the other defendants as Kuleve Terlumun, Mtomga Manasseh, Ugbede Denen, Tatyough Thaddeus, Angwa Dominic, Uwua Igbawua, Adese Asom Orkuma Emmanuel, Owoicho Odeh and Mhir Iyenge.

The charges alleged that during his time in office, the former BSIEC chair misappropriated and diverted funds meant for the conduct of the 2020 and 2022 local government polls to the tune of N1.6 billion.

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Prosecution counsel M.S. Yusuf stated that a petitioner had alleged that Mr Loko only utilised N565 million for both election cycles out of the N1.6 billion.

He said the sum of N1.1 billion was unaccounted for by the former Benue State electoral commission chairman.

Mr Yusuf added that the chairman, sometime in 2020, directly received a cash payment of N118 million from the commission, which was recorded as a receipt/payee and diverted for personal use.

The prosecution counsel further said that sometime in 2022 again, the accused received a cash payment of N110.9 million from the commission, which was recorded as a recipient/payee and diverted for personal use.

He said the acts contravened 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.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Mr Yusuf further asked the court for a date to enable the prosecution to prove its case.

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In a ruling, the judge, M.S. Abubakar, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N50 million each with one surety in like sum.

Mr Abubakar said the sureties must have a valid passport, and each defendant shall deposit his or her international passport with the court registrar.

He also remanded the defendants pending perfection of their bail and adjourned the case until 24 April for hearing.

The trial comes at a time when the chairman of the Kano State Electoral Commission (KNSIEC), Sani Malumfashi, who is a professor, is similarly facing EFCC prosecution over N1 billion fraud charges.