EFCC detains Miyetti Allah president in $2.63m trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, Bello Bodejo, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the determination of his bail application in an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case.

Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order on Thursday after Bodejo was arraigned on multiple counts of alleged money laundering.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read in court.

Following the plea, EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant pending the commencement of proceedings.

Counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji (SAN), however, urged the court to grant his client bail, relying on an application filed on June 30. He argued that the alleged offences were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and appealed to the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the defendant.

The prosecution opposed the application, filing a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit in which it argued that granting bail could jeopardise the case.

Shittu told the court that Bodejo had previously been detained by the Department of State Services over separate allegations and warned that his release could lead to interference with witnesses or the commission of further offences.

He also challenged claims by the defence that the defendant was in poor health, insisting there was no evidence that Bodejo required urgent medical attention.

After hearing both parties, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until July 20 for a ruling on the bail application and directed that the defendant remain in EFCC custody.

According to the charge filed by the anti-graft agency on June 25, Bodejo allegedly received cash payments totalling about $2.63 million from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in police custody.

The EFCC alleged that the transactions, carried out between January 2022 and March 2024 in Abuja, exceeded the cash transaction limits permitted under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws and were conducted outside the banking system.

The agency accused Bodejo of receiving six separate cash payments, including $100,000, $200,000, $100,000, $980,000, $750,000 and $500,000, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The case was adjourned until July 20 for a ruling on the bail application.