EFCC Arraigns Ex-Benue Electoral Boss Tersoo Loko, 10 Others Over Alleged N1.1bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, arraigned Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, former chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSEIC), before a Federal High Court in Makurdi on allegations of a N1.1 billion fraud.

Dr. Loko was presented in court alongside 10 other defendants before Justice M. S. Abubakar on charges linked to the alleged diversion and mismanagement of public funds.

According to an official statement shared by the anti-graft agency on its social media platforms, the defendants were accused of engaging in financial misconduct that purportedly defrauded the Benue State government of approximately N1.1 billion.

Details of the specific counts registered against the accused were expected to be read to the court in subsequent hearings.

In previous legal encounters, Dr. Loko and members of the electoral commission were arraigned in similar graft cases involving lower sums in 2021, when the commission charged them over alleged misappropriation totalling N500 million on 23 counts of conspiracy, breach of trust and money laundering.

At that time, the defendants pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail. The present case appeared to stem from ongoing investigations by the EFCC into the electoral commission finances.

Justice Abubakar adjourned proceedings, with the next date for mention to be announced by the court registry.