The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, Bello Bodejo, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of laundering $2.63m.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order on Thursday after Bodejo was arraigned by the anti-graft agency on multiple counts bordering on alleged violations of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the charges after they were read to him.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), urged the court to fix a trial date and order the defendant’s remand pending trial.
However, Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that he had filed a bail application dated June 30 and urged the judge to hear the motion immediately.
Raji argued that the offences against his client were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), insisting that the court should exercise its discretion in Bodejo’s favour.
The prosecution opposed the application, relying on a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit.
Shittu argued that Bodejo had previously been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) over other alleged offences and contended that releasing him on bail could expose witnesses to interference or create the risk of further criminal conduct.
The prosecution also dismissed the defence’s claim that Bodejo was in poor health, arguing that the injury cited was not recent and that he did not appear medically unfit.
Justice Ekwo declined to rule immediately on the bail application and instead adjourned the matter until July 20 for a ruling, ordering that Bodejo remain in EFCC custody in the meantime.
According to the charge filed by the EFCC on June 25, Bodejo allegedly received cash payments totalling about $2.63 million from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in police custody.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the transactions, carried out between January 2022 and March 2024 in Abuja, exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold permitted under Nigeria’s money laundering laws and were not processed through financial institutions as required.
The charges include allegations that Bodejo received $100,000 on January 11, 2022; $200,000 on January 21, 2022; $100,000 on October 26, 2022; $980,000 on February 7, 2024; $750,000 on March 3, 2024; and $500,000 on March 20, 2024.
The EFCC said the transactions violated provisions of both the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which prohibit cash transactions above the prescribed threshold outside the banking system.
The case was adjourned until July 20 for a ruling on the bail application.
