Money Laundering: Court Grants Miyetti Allah President Bodejo ₦2bn Bail

• The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted Bello Bodejo to ₦2 billion bail, ruling that the alleged money laundering offences brought against him by the EFCC are bailable under Nigerian law despite the prosecution’s opposition.

• Justice Inyang Ekwo imposed stringent conditions for the bail, requiring two sureties in the like sum, including one with three years’ tax clearance and another who owns landed property worth at least ₦2 billion in Abuja.

• The court also ordered the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore National President to surrender his international passport and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval pending the conclusion of the trial.

• Bodejo, who has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, will return to court on October 5, 6, and 7, 2026, when the Federal High Court is expected to commence full trial in the EFCC’s money laundering case against him.

July 20 , () — The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, bail for ₦2 billion after ruling that he was entitled to bail while standing trial on alleged money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the ruling, held that the offences preferred against the defendant were bailable under Nigerian law and exercised the court’s discretion in his favour despite objections raised by the prosecution.

Stringent Bail Conditions

The judge attached stringent conditions to the bail, directing Bodejo to produce two sureties in the like sum of ₦2 billion.

According to the court, one of the sureties must reside in Abuja and provide evidence of three years’ tax clearance, while the second surety must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory valued at not less than ₦2 billion.

Justice Ekwo further ordered the Miyetti Allah leader to deposit his international passport with the court’s registrar and prohibited him from travelling outside Nigeria without obtaining the court’s permission.

The court subsequently adjourned the case until October 5, 6, and 7, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.

EFCC’s Case Against Bodejo

Bodejo was arraigned before the court on July 9 after Justice Ekwo ordered that he be remanded in the custody of the EFCC following his arraignment on alleged money laundering offences.

The anti-graft agency, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, filed the charge dated June 24 and submitted on June 25, naming Bodejo as the sole defendant in the case.

When the charges were read, Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Following his plea, Shittu urged the court to fix a date for trial and order that the defendant remain in custody pending the determination of the case.

Bail Application and Court’s Decision

Counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji, SAN, informed the court that a motion seeking his client’s release on bail had already been filed on June 30.

Arguing the application, Raji maintained that the charges against Bodejo bordered on alleged money laundering offences, which are bailable under the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

He urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the defendant, arguing that no exceptional circumstances warranted his continued detention before trial.

The prosecution opposed the application, asking the court to refuse bail. However, after considering the submissions of both parties, Justice Ekwo ruled that Bodejo had met the legal requirements for bail and admitted him to bail on the conditions earlier outlined.

Trial Set for October

Justice Ekwo fixed October 5, 6, and 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial, when the EFCC is expected to begin presenting evidence to support its allegations against the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore president.