The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, admitted the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, to bail in the sum of ₦2 billion over his ongoing trial for alleged $2.63m money laundering.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the bail after ruling on Bodejo’s application, holding that the offences with which he was charged were bailable and that the court had the discretion to admit him to bail.
The judge ordered the defendant to produce one surety in like sum.
He held that the surety must be resident in Abuja and possess a three-year tax clearance certificate.
Justice Ekwo further ordered that the surety must own landed property worth ₦2 billion in Abuja, adding that the title documents would be verified by the court registrar.
The judge also directed Bodejo to deposit his international passport with the registrar of the court, and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.
He adjourned the case until October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Bodejo was arraigned on July 9 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a multi-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving about $2.63m.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his arraignment, the prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the EFCC.
However, counsel for the defendant, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that he had filed a bail application dated and filed on June 30.
Raji argued that the offences alleged against his client were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and urged the court to grant the application.
Shittu opposed the application, urging the court to refuse bail.
In one of the counts, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo, “on or about January 11, 2022, in Abuja… accepted a cash payment of $100,000 from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without lawful authority…” and outside the banking system, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
The anti-graft agency alleged that the transaction exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of ₦5 million prescribed by law.
The commission also accused Bodejo of accepting additional cash payments of $200,000, $100,000, $980,000, $750,000 and $500,000 from Abubakar on different dates between 2022 and 2024, allegedly in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC alleged that the transactions, which were not routed through financial institutions as required by law, formed the basis of the charges against the Miyetti Allah leader. Bodejo has denied the allegations.
The PUNCH