EFCC arraigns ex-BSEIC Chairman over alleged N1.1bn diversion 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, arraigned Tersoo Loko, a former Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSEIC), alongside ten others before Justice M.S Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Makurdi, for an alleged diversion of One Billion, One Hundred Million Naira.

Loko and the ten others were arrested by the Makurdi Zonal Directorate of the EFCC upon receipt of a petition against them and were arraigned on a 30-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of public funds and money laundering to the tune of N1.1 billion.

The complaint alleged that the former chairman of BSEIC used the advantage of his office and misappropriated and diverted funds meant for the conduct of the 2020 and 2022 local government elections, for which a total sum of N985,403,001.74 and N680,000,000.00 was released, respectively.

The petitioner further alleged that the former BSIEC Chairman only utilised the sum of N565,039,506 for both the 2020 and 2022 elections out of N1,665,403,100.

The petitioner added that the sum of N1,100,363,594 was unaccounted for by Dr Joseph Loko.

Count one of the charge reads that you, Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, whilst in your capacity as Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSEIC, sometime in 2022 in Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, in abuse of your office, did directly receive cash payment of the sum of N118,166,000.00 from Benue State Independent Electoral Commission funds with BSEIC recorded as recipient/payee, which you diverted for your personal use when you reasonably ought to have known that the said money represented the proceeds of your unlawful activity, to wit: criminal misappropriation and abuse of public office.

Count three of the charge also reads that you, Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, whilst in your capacity as Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission BSEIC, sometime in 2022 in Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in abuse of your office, did directly receive cash payment of the sum of N110,905,000 from Benue State Independent Electoral Commission funds with BSEIC recorded as recipient/payee, which you diverted for your personal use when you reasonably ought to have known that the said money represented the proceeds of your unlawful activity, to wit: criminal misappropriation and abuse of public office.

The Ten others persons arrested include Kuleve Kelvin Terlumun, Serki Mtomga Manasseh, Ugbede Denen Ronald, Tatyough Thaddeus, Angwa Dominic Terhember, Uwua Benjamin Igbawua, Adese Asom, Orkuma Emmanuel Nyiusta, Owoicho Odeh, and Mhir Iyenge.

They all pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.

In view of the defendant’s not guilty plea, M.S Yusuf, EFCC counsel, asked the court for a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case.

In his ruling, the judge granted bail to the defendants for fifty million naira each with one surety in like sum. The surety must have a valid international passport, and each defendant shall deposit his or her international passport with the court registrar.

The judge ordered the remand of the defendant pending perfection of their bail.