Alleged $2.63m Money Laundering: Court Grants Miyetti Allah President ₦2bn Bail

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 as he faces prosecution over an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the ruling on Monday, held that the charges against the defendant were bailable and that there was no legal basis to deny him bail.

As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered Bodejo to provide one surety in the same sum of ₦2 billion.

The judge directed that the surety must reside in Abuja, possess a three-year tax clearance certificate and own landed property valued at ₦2 billion within the Federal Capital Territory. The court also ordered that the title documents of the property be verified by its registrar.

In addition, Bodejo was directed to surrender his international passport to the court and was barred from travelling outside Nigeria without obtaining the court’s permission.

Justice Ekwo adjourned the case until October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Bodejo on July 9 on multiple counts bordering on alleged money laundering involving about $2.63 million.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

At the hearing of the bail application, prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), urged the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody and fix a date for trial.

However, Bodejo’s counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), argued that the alleged offences were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. He informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on June 30 and urged the court to grant it.

Shittu opposed the application, insisting that the court should refuse the request.

According to the EFCC, Bodejo allegedly received several cash payments from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, outside the banking system in contravention of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.

One of the charges alleged that on January 11, 2022, Bodejo accepted $100,000 in cash from Abubakar in Abuja without lawful authority, an amount the commission said exceeded the legal cash transaction limit of ₦5 million.

The anti-graft agency further alleged that between 2022 and 2024, Bodejo received additional cash payments of $200,000, $100,000, $980,000, $750,000 and $500,000 from the former state official, all outside recognised financial institutions.

The EFCC maintained that the transactions violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, forming the basis of the charges against the Miyetti Allah leader.

Bodejo has denied all the allegations and is expected to stand trial when proceedings begin in October.

Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE

Koikimedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep