The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged $2.33 million money laundering scheme.
Key Highlight:
The EFCC arraigned Miyetti Allah President Bello Bodejo on a 12-count money laundering charge involving an alleged $2.33 million.
Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The prosecution opposed bail, arguing that the defendant could interfere with witnesses and citing the DSS’s interest in the case.
Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered Bodejo’s remand in the EFCC holding facility and fixed July 20, 2026, for a ruling on his bail application.
The EFCC alleges Bodejo received large cash payments from former Bauchi State Accountant-General Sa’idu Abubakar outside the banking system, contrary to Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
Bodejo was brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged violations of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
At the commencement of proceedings, EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), informed the court that the charge, dated June 24 and filed on June 25, was ripe for arraignment and urged the court to allow the defendant to take his plea.
Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts.
Following the plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant pending trial.
However, defence counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), urged the court to grant Bodejo bail, relying on an application filed on June 30.
The prosecution opposed the application, citing a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit filed on July 6.
Shittu argued that Bodejo posed a public risk, claiming the Department of State Services (DSS) was also interested in him. He further contended that, given the defendant’s influence, he could interfere with witnesses and obstruct the course of justice if released on bail.
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Justice Ekwo declined to grant bail immediately, ordering that Bodejo be remanded in the EFCC’s holding facility pending a ruling on the application.
The court adjourned the case until July 20, 2026, for the bail ruling.
According to the EFCC, Bodejo is accused of receiving large cash payments from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in police custody, in transactions that allegedly violated statutory limits on cash dealings.
One of the charges alleges that on January 11, 2022, Bodejo accepted $100,000 in cash from Abubakar without routing the transaction through a financial institution, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
Another count alleges that on February 7, 2024, he similarly received $980,000 in cash from the former Bauchi accountant-general in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The anti-graft agency alleges that the cumulative transactions, put at $2.33 million, breached Nigeria’s legal threshold for cash transactions and constituted money laundering offences.
