Abuja, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Bello Abdullahi Bodejo before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering involving $2.53 million.
The anti-graft agency filed a 12-count charge on June 22, 2026, accusing Bodejo of receiving and possessing large sums of foreign currency suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, in violation of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
According to court documents, Bodejo allegedly accepted multiple cash payments in United States dollars far above the legal threshold without routing them through financial institutions, as required by law.
One of the charges stated that he “knowingly and willfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accepted a payment of $100,000 in physical currency… which exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution.”
The EFCC further alleged that similar transactions occurred on different dates, including payments of $200,000, $500,000, and $980,000, all reportedly linked to a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, who is currently in police custody.
In another count, the Commission accused Bodejo of taking possession of $980,000 “under circumstances in which he either knew, or reasonably ought to have known, that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.”
The offences are said to contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bodejo, who has been linked to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, is expected to take his plea in the coming days as the court begins formal proceedings in the case.
The EFCC has not disclosed further details on the terrorism financing aspect of the charges but indicated that prosecution will proceed based on evidence gathered during investigations.
The arraignment marks a significant development in ongoing efforts by anti-corruption agencies to clamp down on illicit financial flows and strengthen compliance with financial regulations in Nigeria.
