The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Bello Bodejo, National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, bail in the sum of N2 billion over allegations of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the ruling on Monday, imposed stringent conditions for the defendant’s release, including the provision of two sureties in the same amount. As part of the Bodejo bail conditions, the court directed that one of the sureties must be a resident of Abuja and provide evidence of three years of tax clearance. The second surety must own landed property in the Federal Capital Territory valued at N2 billion.
The judge also ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court registrar and prohibited him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval from the court. Justice Ekwo held that the offences against the defendant were bailable and exercised the court’s discretion in granting the application.
The matter was adjourned to October 5, 6 and 7 for the commencement of trial. Bodejo was earlier remanded in the custody of the EFCC on July 9 after he was arraigned before the court on charges bordering on alleged money laundering.
The anti-graft agency filed the charge on June 25, with Bello Bodejo named as the sole defendant. During his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to all counts. Following the plea, EFCC counsel Wahab Shittu, SAN, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant pending further proceedings.
Counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji, SAN, however, urged the court to grant his client bail. He informed the court that the application, filed on June 30, argued that the alleged offences were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Raji maintained that the court had the legal authority to release his client pending trial, while the prosecution opposed the application. After considering the submissions of both parties, the court approved the Bodejo bail request with the conditions outlined and fixed October for the commencement of proceedings in the alleged money laundering case.
