Court remands Miyetti Allah President over alleged money laundering, terrorism financing

The National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, Bello Bodejo, has been remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of money laundering and terrorism financing involving $2.63 million.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Thursday after Bodejo was arraigned by the anti-graft agency on multiple charges related to alleged money laundering and terrorism financing.

The court directed that the Miyetti Allah leader remain in EFCC custody pending the hearing of his bail request and fixed July 20 for a ruling on the application.

The EFCC, represented by Wahab Shittu, SAN, filed the charges on June 25. When the counts were read in court, Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the allegations.

Following his plea, the prosecution asked the court to set a date for trial and requested that the defendant be remanded.

Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on June 30 and sought permission to argue the motion.

Raji maintained that the alleged offences are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and urged the court to grant his client bail.

Opposing the request, Shittu told the court that the EFCC had submitted a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit, which it adopted in full.

He argued that Bodejo had previously been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) over other alleged offences and warned that releasing him could create an opportunity for further offences.

The prosecutor also rejected the defendant’s claim of ill health, insisting that the injury cited was not recent and that Bodejo did not appear to be medically unfit.

Shittu further argued that the Miyetti Allah president could influence or interfere with witnesses if granted bail, although he urged the court to impose strict conditions should it decide to release him.

According to the EFCC, Bodejo allegedly received multiple cash payments from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Attorney-General of Bauchi State who is currently in police custody.

The agency claimed that on January 21, 2022, Bodejo accepted $200,000 in cash from Abubakar in Abuja, a transaction said to exceed the legal cash limit.

The EFCC further alleged that he received another $100,000 on October 26, 2022, in addition to $980,000 through separate cash transactions.

The anti-graft agency said the alleged acts violate Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same law.