The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore leader, Bello Bodejo before the Federal High Court, Abuja for suspected money laundering of $2.33 million.
Bodejo was arraigned today before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged infractions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, EFCC on X said.
He nevertheless pleaded not guilty to all the accusations, The PUNCH reports.
The prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), sought the court to schedule a trial date after his plea and confine the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service. Demographics
But defence counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN) requested the court to admit Bodejo to bail on the strength of an application submitted on June 30, 2026.
The prosecution opposed the application, stating the defendant was a flight risk and may interfere with the proceedings.
Shittu told the court that the Department of State Services was “on the watch out for him” and that being an influential person he may manipulate the witnesses and development of the case.
Also, Justice Ekwo directed that Bodejo be held in EFCC custody and delayed the hearing till July 20 for deciding on the bail application.
The EFCC said one of the accusations indicated that Bodejo unlawfully collected the sum of $100,000 cash from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar without going through a financial institution as required by law.
The charge reads 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.
Bodejo was also accused of receiving cash of $980,000 from the same person in February, 2024, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Time & Calendars
It reads: “That you… knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse did receive a cash payment in the sum of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars (USD $980,000.00)… without channelling said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.
The anti-graft office said the total amount involved in the charges is around $2.33 million.
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