Court remands PDP chieftains, Mffo, Iortyom over funds diversion

Benue high court has remanded former Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Isaac Mffo and the erstwhile State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom at the Makurdi Correctional Centre.

The two chieftains of the PDP were found culpable over alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cyber crimes and defamation of characters against Prof. Nicholas Ada, High Chief Terngu Tsegba and former Benue Assembly Speaker Terseer Tsumba.

In a prosecution sheet read before the accused, on Tuesday, the Court Clerk stated that the accused had recently alleged the trio of Prof. Nicholas Ada, High Chief Terngu Tsegba and former Benue Assembly Speaker Terseer Tsumba, of sponsoring thugs to disrupt Ward Congresses in Benue state.

According to the prosecutor, the disruption caused a breach of peace within the PDP and had in 2023 embezzled funds meant for the conduct of elections in Benue State.

Putting appearance for the defendants, (Bemgba Iortyom and Isaac Mffo), Barr. A.U. Gar pleaded that the court should grant his Client bail on self-recognition but was vehemently objected by C.N. Agudu who submitted that the weight of the accusations was too heavy to be easily taken for granted.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Kelvin Mbanongon stated that the allegations bordering on Cyber Crimes could not be treated with kids’ gloves and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Màkurdi Correctional Center in Màkurdi while the investigation into the matter should continue.

Justice Mbanongon therefore fixed October 15, 2024, for further mentioning of the case.