The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of money laundering involving approximately $2.33 million.
The anti-graft agency disclosed the development on Thursday in a post published on its official X account, stating that Bodejo was brought before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged violations of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
When the charges were read in court, the Miyetti Allah leader pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts.
Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), requested the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and order that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing of the case.
However, counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji (SAN), urged the court to admit his client to bail.
Raji informed the court that a formal bail application had already been filed on June 30, 2026, and asked the judge to grant the request pending the determination of the case.
Opposing the application, the EFCC argued that Bodejo should not be granted bail, insisting that he posed a significant flight risk and could interfere with the ongoing prosecution.
Shittu further informed the court that the Department of State Services (DSS) was also monitoring the defendant.
He argued that Bodejo’s status and influence could enable him to manipulate witnesses or obstruct the progress of the trial if released.
“The Department of State Services was on the watch out for him,” Shittu told the court, adding that “being an influential person, he may manipulate the witnesses and progress of the case.”
After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Ekwo ordered that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s holding facility.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until July 20, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges alleges that Bodejo unlawfully accepted a cash payment of $100,000 from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without processing the transaction through a financial institution as required under Nigerian law.
The charge states in part:
“That you, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo… did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD $100,000.00)… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.”
The commission also alleged that Bodejo received an additional cash payment of $980,000 from the same former public official in February 2024.
The prosecution maintained that the transaction equally violated the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The charge reads:
“That you… did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars (USD $980,000.00)… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.”
The EFCC stated that the cumulative amount involved in the 12-count charge is estimated at about $2.33 million.
The anti-corruption agency did not disclose further details regarding the remaining charges but maintained that the alleged transactions contravened Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
