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 over his ongoing trial for alleged money laundering involving $2.63 million.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling delivered on Monday, held that the charges against Bodejo were bailable and that the court had the discretion to admit him to bail.
The court ordered the defendant to provide one surety in the same amount.
According to the ruling, the surety must reside in Abuja, possess a three-year tax clearance certificate, and own landed property in the Federal Capital Territory valued at ₦2 billion. The title documents to the property are to be verified by the court registrar.
Justice Ekwo also directed Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court registrar and prohibited him from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s approval.
The case was adjourned 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 (EFCC) on multiple counts of alleged money laundering involving about $2.63 million.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his arraignment, the EFCC’s counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in the commission’s custody.
However, Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that he had filed a bail application on June 30, arguing that the alleged offences were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Shittu opposed the application and urged the court to deny bail.
According to one of the charges, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo, on January 11, 2022, accepted a cash payment of $100,000 from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, outside the banking system and without lawful authority, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
The commission alleged that the transaction exceeded the statutory cash transaction limit of ₦5 million.
The EFCC further accused Bodejo of receiving additional cash payments of $200,000, $100,000, $980,000, $750,000 and $500,000 from Abubakar on different occasions between 2022 and 2024, allegedly in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The anti-graft agency maintained that the transactions were not conducted through financial institutions as required by law and formed the basis of the charges against the Miyetti Allah leader.
Bodejo has denied all the allegations.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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