A 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 allegations of money laundering involving $2.63 million.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the ruling on Monday, ordered that Bodejo provide one surety in like sum.
The court stipulated that the surety must be a resident of Abuja, possess a three-year tax clearance certificate, and own landed property valued at ₦2 billion within the Federal Capital Territory.
The judge further directed that the property documents be verified by the court registrar and ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport.
He was also barred from travelling outside the country without the court’s permission.
Justice Ekwo held that the offences against the defendant were bailable and that the court had the discretion to grant bail under the law.
“The offences with which the defendant is charged are bailable, and the court is empowered to exercise its discretion in granting bail,” the judge ruled.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Bodejo was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on multiple counts bordering on alleged money laundering offences involving cash transactions totaling about $2.63 million.
The anti-graft agency alleged that between 2022 and 2024, Bodejo received several cash payments from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without routing the transactions through financial institutions as required by law.
According to the charges, the transactions included separate cash payments of $100,000, $200,000, another $100,000, $980,000, $750,000 and $500,000, all of which allegedly exceeded the statutory threshold for cash transactions.
The EFCC contended that the transactions violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read in court.
While the EFCC’s counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), sought a trial date and requested that the defendant remain in custody, defence counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN) urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the alleged offences were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Following arguments from both parties, the court granted the bail application and fixed dates for the commencement of trial.
