Court admits Miyetti Allah president to N2bn bail in $2.63m laundering case

THE Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Mr Bello Bodejo, to bail in the sum of N2 billion over an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the ruling on Monday, ordered that Bodejo produce two sureties in like sum before he can enjoy the bail.

Bodejo was arraigned by the EFCC on July 9 on multiple counts of alleged money laundering. He denied all the charges when they were read to him.

According to the anti-graft agency, Bodejo received $200,000 in cash from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, on January 21, 2022, in a transaction said to have exceeded the legal cash limit. The commission further alleged that he accepted another $100,000 in cash from the same individual on October 26, 2022, as well as an additional $980,000 through separate cash transactions.

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The EFCC said the alleged acts violated Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Act.

As part of the bail conditions, the court directed that one of the sureties must be an Abuja resident and provide tax clearance certificates covering the last 3 years. The second surety is required to own landed property in Abuja valued at N2 billion.

Justice Ekwo also ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court registrar and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval of the court.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until October 5 to 7, 2026, when trial is expected to commence.