The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged $2.33 million money laundering scheme.
Bodejo was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged violations of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his plea, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail based on an application filed on June 30, 2026.
Opposing the request, the prosecution argued that Bodejo poses a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses and the course of justice due to his influence. Shittu also informed the court that the Department of State Services (DSS) was monitoring the defendant.
Justice Ekwo subsequently ordered that Bodejo be remanded in the EFCC’s holding facility and adjourned the case until July 20, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges alleges that Bodejo unlawfully received $100,000 in cash from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without processing the transaction through a financial institution as required by the Money Laundering Act.
Another count accuses him of accepting an additional $980,000 in cash from the same individual in February 2024 under similar circumstances.
The anti-graft agency said the alleged illegal cash transactions listed in the 12-count charge amount to approximately $2.33 million.
