The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, in the sum of N2 billion.
Bodejo is standing trial over an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the application on Monday. He ruled that the offences are bailable and that the court has the discretion to admit the defendant to bail.
Court sets strict bail conditions
The judge ordered Bodejo to provide one surety in the same sum of N2 billion.
The surety must live in Abuja and present a three-year tax clearance certificate.
The court also directed the surety to own landed property worth N2 billion in the Federal Capital Territory.
In addition, the court registrar will verify the property’s title documents.
Justice Ekwo further ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court registrar.
The judge also barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s approval.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the case until October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
EFCC arraigns Bodejo on money laundering charges
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Bodejo on July 9.
The commission filed a multi-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving about $2.63 million.
However, Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
After the arraignment, EFCC counsel Wahab Shittu (SAN) asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the commission’s custody.
In response, Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that he had filed a bail application on June 30.
He argued that the alleged offences are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Therefore, he urged the court to release his client on bail.
Although the prosecution opposed the request, Justice Ekwo granted the application.
EFCC details alleged cash transactions
According to the EFCC, Bodejo accepted a cash payment of $100,000 from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, in Abuja on January 11, 2022.
The commission alleged that the payment exceeded the statutory cash transaction limit of N5 million.
It also claimed the transaction took place outside the banking system, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
Furthermore, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo received additional cash payments of $200,000, $100,000, $980,000, $750,000 and $500,000 from Abubakar on different occasions between 2022 and 2024.
According to the anti-graft agency, the transactions did not pass through financial institutions as required by law.
The commission said those transactions formed the basis of the charges against the Miyetti Allah leader.
Bodejo, however, denied all the allegations.
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