$2.33m probe: Miyetti Allah leader Bodejo faces trial, remanded

‎The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned the leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering involving $2.33m.

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‎Bodejo was docked on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged violations of the Money Laundering Act.

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‎At the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), informed the court that the charge, dated June 24, 2026, and filed on June 25, was ripe for arraignment and urged the court to allow the defendant to take his plea. The request was granted.

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‎Count one of the charge read: “That you, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo (male, adult), on or about the 11th day of January 2022, at Abuja… did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD $100,000) in physical currency from one Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigeria Police Force… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”

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‎Count Four further alleged that on February 7, 2024, he similarly accepted “a cash payment of the sum of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars (USD $980,000.00) in physical currency from one Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”

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‎Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts.

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‎Following his plea, Shittu urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

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‎Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), however, prayed the court to admit his client to bail in line with an application filed on June 30, 2026.

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‎The prosecution opposed the application, relying on a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit dated July 6, 2026.

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‎Shittu argued that the defendant posed a flight risk, noting that the Department of State Services was also interested in him, and further contended that, given his influence, he could interfere with witnesses and the course of the trial.

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‎Justice Ekwo ordered that Bodejo be remanded in the EFCC’s holding facility and adjourned the matter to July 20 for ruling on his bail application.

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