The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case.
Bodejo was brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday on charges bordering on alleged violations of Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against him.
Following his arraignment, the EFCC, through its counsel, Wahab Shittu, asked the court to remand the defendant in custody and fix a date for trial.
Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on June 30. He argued that the alleged offences are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and urged the court to grant his client bail.
However, the EFCC opposed the application, relying on a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit. The anti-graft agency argued that Bodejo had previously been investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS) over other alleged offences and could commit further offences if released.
The prosecution also dismissed claims that the defendant was in poor health, maintaining that the injury cited by the defence was not recent and did not justify his release on medical grounds.
The EFCC further expressed concerns that Bodejo could interfere with witnesses if granted bail, although it asked the court to impose strict bail conditions should it decide to release him.
After listening to both parties, Justice Ekwo ordered that Bodejo remain in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of his bail application.
The court adjourned the case until July 20 to rule on the bail request.
According to the charges, the EFCC alleged that on January 21, 2022, Bodejo accepted $200,000 in cash from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, in a transaction that exceeded the legal cash limit.
The commission also alleged that he received another $100,000 in cash from the same individual on October 26, 2022, as well as an additional $980,000 in separate cash transactions, all of which allegedly violated the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC said the alleged offences contravene Section 19(1)(d) of the Act and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same law.
The case is expected to continue after the court delivers its ruling on Bodejo’s bail application on July 20.