 Makurdi zonal office have arraigned the Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral){kind=link}
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Makurdi zonal office have arraigned the Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Mr. Joseph Tersoo Loko, Secretary, Serki Mtomba Manaseh; the Treasurer, Akange Akula over alleged N500 million fraud.
Also arraigned are the commission’s members and Commissioners including Mr. Abe Aboyi Augustine, Donald Kertyo, Agber Aondona Emmanuel, Sunday Agbaji, and Ekoja Daniel who appeared before Justice Abdu Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.
The defendants were docked on a 23-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, forgery and money laundering to the tune of Five Hundred Million Naira.
Count one of the charge reads:
“You Mr. Loko Tersoo Joseph, the Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Serki Mtomga Manasseh, the Secretary of BSIEC, Mr. Akange Akula, the Chief Accountant of BSIEC, Mr. Abe Aboyi Augustine, the Commissioner for Planning, Research & Documentation of BSIEC, Barr. Donald Kertyo, the Commissioner for Operations of BSIEC, Hon. Agber Aondona Emmanuel, the Commissioner for Works & Transport of BSIEC, Hon. Sunday Agbaji, the Commissioner for Information & Public Affairs of BSIEC, Mr. Ekoja Daniel, the Commissioner for Finance of BSIEC”.
“That sometime between February to June, 2020, in Makurdi, Benue State, within the jurisdiction of this Court, did conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act”.
Count three charge further alleged that the BSIEC chairman, Mr. Loko
on or about the 28th day of May, 2020 in Makurdi allegedly accept cash payment of One Hundred Million Naira through one of the Administrative Officers, Mr. Aungwa Dominic, which sum exceeded the cash payable to an individual and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) and 16(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
“That you Mr. Serki Mtomga Manasseh, the Secretary of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), on or about the 16th day of March, 2020, in Makurdi, Benue State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did accept cash payment of Thirty-Two Million Naira (32,000,000.00) through your Confidential Secretary, Tsetim Christiana, which sum exceeded the cash payable to an individual and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) and 16(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges preferred against them.
Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel Ramiah Ikhanaede asked for a trial date and that all the defendants be remanded in a Correctional Facility.
However, Counsel to the defendants, B. A. Iorhegh, in an oral application, asked the court to admit the defendants to bail on self-recognition or in the alternative, grant them bail on liberal terms.
The presiding Judge, Mr. Justice Dogo admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million each with one surety in like sum.
He said such a surety must have a fully developed landed property worth N50 million and must be working in Benue State; must also submit two recent passports, photographs and original letters of appointment.
The court further banned all the defendants from travelling outside Nigeria without the knowledge of the Court.
The case was adjourned till September 28, 2021 for the commencement of trial as the defendants were led to the Correctional Center pending the perfection of bail conditions.