The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore National President Bello Bodejo’s bid to review the N2 billion bail conditions imposed on him in his ongoing money laundering trial.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the matter on Thursday, July 23, ruled that the application could not be entertained before the court’s annual vacation because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a counter-affidavit opposing the request, making it unlikely that the application would be determined within the available time.
Bodejo is being prosecuted by the EFCC over $2.63 million money laundering case linked to funds said to have originated from the Bauchi State Government.
The court had on Monday, July 20, admitted him to bail in the sum of N2 billion with two sureties.
As part of the bail conditions, one of the sureties must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the court and provide evidence of tax payment for the last three years, while the second surety must own landed property in Abuja valued at not less than N2 billion.
When the matter came up on Thursday, July 23, Bodejo’s counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, informed the court that an application had been filed seeking a variation of the bail conditions on the grounds that they were difficult to meet.
Counsel to the EFCC, Fatai Erewunmi, confirmed receipt of the application and told the court that the anti-graft agency had filed a counter-affidavit opposing the request.
After listening to both parties, Justice Ekwo held that there was insufficient time to determine the contested application before the commencement of the court’s annual vacation.
The judge consequently advised the parties to present the application before the designated vacation judge during the court recess, explaining that the substantive criminal trial would continue before him after the vacation.
Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the case until Monday, October 5, for the commencement of trial.
According to the EFCC, Bodejo received $100,000 from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in police custody, in addition to several other cash payments made in foreign currency.
The anti-graft agency stated that the transactions exceeded the legal threshold for cash transactions outside the banking system as stipulated under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
The commission further stated that the funds formed part of transactions amounting to about $2.63 million and accused Bodejo of failing to route the money through authorised financial institutions.
The EFCC maintains that the offences contravene the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), as well as the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, under which the Miyetti Allah leader is standing trial.
Bodejo has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges, paving the way for a full trial scheduled to begin in October.
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