The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, arraigned Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, a former Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSEIC), over an alleged N1.1 billion fraud involving public funds.
Loko was brought before Justice M. S. Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, alongside 10 other defendants. The defendants are accused of participating in the diversion and misappropriation of public funds amounting to N1,100,000,000.
The case forms part of ongoing investigations into the handling of funds by officials entrusted with managing state-level electoral institutions.
According to the EFCC, it has intensified scrutiny of such agencies amid growing concerns over financial accountability and transparency in the conduct of elections across Nigeria.
The arraignment of the former BSEIC chairman comes against the backdrop of similar legal actions involving officials of other state electoral commissions.
In a related development, SaharaReporters on Tuesday reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had ordered the remand of the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Prof. Sani Malumfashi, along with three senior officials of the commission, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The remand order was issued by Justice James Omotosho following their arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over an alleged N1.02 billion fraud.
Those remanded alongside Prof. Malumfashi include the Secretary of KANSIEC, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and the Deputy Director of Accounts, Ado Garba. The defendants were arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, and diversion of public funds.
According to the ICPC, the officials allegedly siphoned funds from the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission by routing public money through private bank accounts linked to a farm identified as SLM Agro Global Farm, domiciled at Jaiz Bank.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the funds were unlawfully transferred and diverted for purposes unrelated to the commission’s statutory responsibilities.
Leave a Reply