The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, in the sum of ₦2 billion with one surety in like amount over alleged money laundering offences involving about $2.63 million.
Delivering the ruling on Monday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the offences were bailable and exercised the court’s discretion in Bodejo’s favour.
The judge ordered that the surety must reside in Abuja, possess a three-year tax clearance certificate and own landed property worth ₦2 billion within the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Ekwo also directed that the title documents of the property be verified by the court registrar.
In addition, Bodejo was ordered to surrender his international passport to the court registrar and was barred from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until October 5, October 6 and October 7 for the commencement of trial.
Justice Ekwo had, on July 9, reserved ruling on Bodejo’s bail application after ordering his remand in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following his arraignment.
The EFCC, through its counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), arraigned Bodejo on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.
Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
While Shittu urged the court to remand the defendant pending trial, defence counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN) applied for bail, arguing that the alleged offences were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The prosecution opposed the application.
According to the EFCC, Bodejo allegedly received cash payments totalling about $2.63 million from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without routing the transactions through a financial institution as required by law.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the payments, made between January 2022 and March 2024, exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold prescribed under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Specifically, the commission alleged that Bodejo received $100,000 on January 11, 2022; $200,000 on January 21, 2022; another $100,000 on October 26, 2022; $980,000 on February 7, 2024; $750,000 on March 3, 2024; and $500,000 on March 20, 2024. The EFCC alleged that each transaction was conducted in cash and exceeded the legal threshold without being processed through a financial institution, contrary to the provisions of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
The commission further told the court that Abubakar, from whom the funds were allegedly received, is currently in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force.
Bodejo denied all the allegations and is expected to stand trial when proceedings commence in October.
