The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail to the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, in the sum of ₦2 billion as he faces trial over alleged money laundering involving $2.63 million.
Justice Inyang Ekwo admitted the defendant to bail after ruling that the offences preferred against him are bailable and that the court has the discretion to release him pending trial.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered Bodejo to produce one surety in the same amount.
The judge ruled that the surety must be resident in Abuja, possess a three-year tax clearance certificate and own landed property in the Federal Capital Territory valued at ₦2 billion.
Justice Ekwo directed that the property’s title documents be verified by the court’s registrar before the bail conditions can be perfected.
The court also ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court registrar and prohibited him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval of the court.
The case was subsequently adjourned until October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Bodejo was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on July 9 on multiple counts of alleged money laundering involving approximately $2.63 million.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his arraignment, prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending the hearing of the case.
However, defence counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that he had already filed a bail application, arguing that the alleged offences are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The prosecution opposed the application, urging the court to refuse bail.
According to the charge, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo accepted a cash payment of $100,000 from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, on or about January 11, 2022, outside the banking system and without lawful authority.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the transaction exceeded the statutory cash transaction limit prescribed under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
The commission further accused Bodejo of receiving additional cash payments of $200,000, $100,000, $980,000, $750,000 and $500,000 from the same individual on different occasions between 2022 and 2024, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC maintained that the transactions were conducted outside recognised financial institutions in violation of extant laws.
Bodejo has denied all the allegations and insists he is innocent of the charges.