A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the matter on Thursday, ordered that Bodejo remain in the anti-graft agency’s custody pending the determination of his bail application. The court adjourned the case until July 20 for a ruling on the bail request.
Bodejo was arraigned on charges bordering on alleged money laundering and pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following the arraignment, EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in custody.
Counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and urged the judge to hear the motion.
Raji argued that the application, filed on June 30, was supported by several grounds and maintained that the offences alleged against his client are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). He therefore urged the court to grant Bodejo bail.
Opposing the application, Shittu relied on a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit filed by the EFCC, urging the court to refuse bail.
The prosecutor argued that Bodejo had previously been a guest of the Department of State Services (DSS) over other alleged offences and could commit further offences if released.
Shittu also dismissed the defendant’s claim of ill health, stating that the injury cited was not recent and that Bodejo did not appear to be in poor health. He further argued that the Miyetti Allah leader could interfere with prosecution witnesses if granted bail, while urging the court to impose strict conditions should it decide otherwise.
According to the charges, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo accepted $200,000 in cash from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, on January 21, 2022, in a transaction that exceeded the legal cash payment threshold.
The commission further alleged that he received another $100,000 in cash from Abubakar on October 26, 2022, along with an additional $980,000 in separate cash transactions.
The EFCC said the alleged offences contravene Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
