The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday declined to entertain an application by the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, seeking a review of the stringent N2 billion bail conditions earlier granted to him over alleged money laundering charges.
Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the application could not proceed after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a counter-affidavit opposing the request, noting that there would not be enough time to determine the matter before the court proceeds on its annual vacation.
Bodejo is standing trial over alleged money laundering involving $2.63 million said to be linked to the Bauchi State Government. The court had on Monday admitted him to bail in the sum of N2 billion with two sureties. One surety is required to provide evidence of three years’ tax clearance and reside within the court’s jurisdiction, while the other must own landed property in Abuja valued at N2 billion.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Bodejo’s lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, informed the court that an application had been filed asking for a variation of the bail conditions.
Counsel to the EFCC, Fatai Erewunmi, confirmed receipt of the application and told the court that the anti-graft agency had already filed a counter-affidavit urging the court to reject the request.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Ekwo said the disputed application could not be concluded before the court’s vacation and advised both parties to approach the vacation judge during the recess. He added that the substantive trial would continue before his court after the vacation.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until October 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
According to the EFCC, Bodejo allegedly received $100,000 from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State currently in police custody, in addition to other foreign currency cash payments.
The commission alleged that the transactions exceeded the statutory limit of N5 million allowed for cash dealings outside the banking system, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, under which he is being prosecuted.
