July 9 (THEWILL) — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, Bello Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and terrorism financing involving $2.63 million.
The anti-graft agency accused Bodejo of receiving several cash payments running into millions of dollars in breach of Nigeria’s money laundering laws, including $200,000, $100,000 and $980,000 allegedly collected from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, in transactions said to have exceeded the statutory cash payment threshold.
The EFCC further alleged that the funds formed part of transactions linked to terrorism financing, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bodejo, who is the sole defendant in the charge dated June 24 and filed on June 25, pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts after they were read before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
At the commencement of proceedings, EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and asked that the defendant take his plea. Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, did not oppose the application.
Following Bodejo’s plea, Shittu applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant pending the commencement of proceedings.
The defence, however, drew the court’s attention to a bail application filed on June 30. Moving the application, Raji argued that the offences charged were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and urged the court to admit his client to bail.
Opposing the application, Shittu told the court that the EFCC had filed a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit, arguing that Bodejo posed a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses if released.
The prosecution further argued that the defendant had previously been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over other alleged offences, adding that there was a likelihood he could commit further offences if granted bail.
Shittu also dismissed the defence’s claim that Bodejo required medical attention, insisting that the injury cited was not recent and that the defendant did not appear to be in poor health.
While urging the court to refuse the application, the prosecution submitted that if bail was eventually granted, it should be on stringent conditions capable of guaranteeing the defendant’s appearance throughout the trial.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Ekwo ordered that Bodejo be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending a ruling on his bail application.
The judge adjourned the matter until July 20, 2026, for ruling on the bail application and further proceedings.
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