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 the like amount over allegations of money laundering involving approximately $2.63 million.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the offences against Bodejo are bailable and exercised the court’s discretion in granting his application for bail.
As part of the bail conditions, the court directed that the surety must be an Abuja resident with a valid three-year tax clearance and own landed property in Abuja valued at ₦2 billion. The court also ordered that the property’s ownership documents be verified by the court registrar.
Justice Ekwo further ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court registrar and prohibited him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval from the court.
The case was adjourned to October 5, 6, and 7 for the commencement of trial.
Bodejo was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on multiple counts of alleged money laundering. The anti-graft agency accused him of receiving several cash payments totalling about $2.63 million from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, without routing the transactions through financial institutions as required under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
The EFCC alleged that the transactions, which took place between 2022 and 2024, exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold prescribed by law.
Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the charges. While the prosecution opposed his bail application, the defence argued that the alleged offences are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). The court subsequently granted bail, while the criminal proceedings continue.
