Alleged $2.63m money laundering: Court admits Miyetti Allah President to N2bn bail

By Vivian Okejeme

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, Monday, granted the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo bail to the tune of N2 billion with two sureties in like sum.

One of the bail conditions ordered that one of the sureties must have a three-year tax clearance and must reside in Abuja, while the second sureties must have a land worth N2 billion in Abuja.

The court held that documents of the property shall be verified by the court registrar, adding that Bodejo should drop his international passport with the registrar of the court and must not travel outside the country without the leave of the court.

Meantime, the matter is adjourned till October 5, 6 and 7 for commencement of trial.

The judge had, on July 9, fixed Monday for ruling on Bodejo’s bail application who is facing money laundering charge of about $2.63 million.

The judge thereafter ordered the remand of the Miyetti Allah president in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC, through its counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, had named Bodejo as sole defendant in the charge filed June 25, which Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the counts when read out to him.

Shittu then applied for a trial date and urged the court to order his remand.

But Ahmed Raji, SAN, representing the defendant informed the court about their bail application filed on June 30.

The lawyer submitted that the offences with which Bodejo was charged bordered on money laundering. According to him, under Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), they are bailable offences and urged the court to admit the defendant to bail.

Counsel to the prosecution, Wahab Shittu opposed Raji’s application for the bail of the Miyetti Allah’s president.

In count one, Bodejo was alleged to have, on or about January 11, 2022 in Abuja, without lawful authority, accepted a cash payment of the sum of $100,000 in physical currency from Sa’idu Abubakar a former Accountant-General (AG) of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigerian Police Force.

It said the sum exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of N5 million prescribed under Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.

“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,” it read.

In count two, Bodejo was alleged to have, on or about the January 21, 2022 in Abuja, without lawful authority accepted a cash payment of the sum of $200,000.00 in physical currency from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former AG of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigerian Police Force, which exceeded the transaction threshold.

Count three accused him of accepting a cash payment of another $100,000.00 on or about October 26, 2022 in Abuja, without lawful authority from Abubakar.

In count four, the defendant was alleged to have, on or about February 7, 2024 in Abuja, without lawful authority accepted a cash payment of the sum of $980,000.00 in physical currency from Abubakar.

Count five accused him of accepting $750,000.00, on or about March 3, 2024 in Abuja, from Abubakar without lawful authority.

In Count six, Bodejo was alleged to have, on or about March 20, 2024 in Abuja, accepted a cash payment of $500,000.00 in physical currency from Abubakar without lawful authority.

It said this exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of N5 million prescribed under Section 2(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.