Court Grants Miyetti Allah President Badejo N2bn Bail
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 as he faces trial over alleged money laundering involving $2.63 million.
Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered the ruling on Monday after considering Bodejo’s bail application. The judge held that the offences against the defendant are bailable and ruled that the court had the discretion to admit him to bail.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered Bodejo to produce two sureties in the like sum of N2 billion. One of the sureties must be a resident of Abuja and provide three years’ tax clearance, while the second surety must own landed property worth N2 billion within the Federal Capital Territory.
The court also directed the Miyetti Allah leader to surrender his international passport to the court registrar and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.
“The offence with which the defendant was charged was bailable and the court has the discretionary power to exercise this in his favour,” Justice Ekwo ruled.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until October 5, October 6 and October 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Bodejo was remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on July 9 after he was arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.
During the proceedings, EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant, while Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail.
Raji argued that the alleged offences were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), saying, “The offences with which Bodejo was charged bordered on money laundering. Under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), they are bailable offences.”
The EFCC alleges that Bodejo unlawfully received and possessed about $2.63 million in cash, which it described as proceeds of unlawful activities. The anti-graft agency claims much of the money came from the Bauchi State Government through transactions that were not processed through financial institutions as required by law.
According to the commission, Bodejo received large sums of cash from the former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, between 2022 and 2024, including payments of $100,000, $200,000, $500,000 and $980,000. Prosecutors maintain that the cash transactions exceeded the legal threshold and violated the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
The EFCC has linked the alleged transactions to its ongoing investigation into suspected money laundering and terrorism financing involving some officials of the Bauchi State Government.
It is understood that Mr Bodejo spent about six months cumulatively in detention in 2024 and briefly faced terrorism charges within the year before the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office withdrew the case without giving reasons.
Bodejo has denied any wrongdoing and is expected to defend himself when his trial begins in October.
