The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to Bello Bodejo, the Miyetti Allah leader over alleged money laundering offenses.
Presiding judge Inyang Ekwo granted Bodejo bail on Monday set at ₦2 billion, requiring two sureties in like sum.
His bail comes following his July 9 arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on money laundering charges.
He however pleaded not guilty to all counts.
According to the EFCC, the Miyetti Allah leader illegally accepted $200,000 in physical cash from former Bauchi State Accountant-General Sa’idu Abubakar on January 21, 2022, surpassing the lawful statutory limit for cash transactions.
The commission further alleged that Bodejo accepted an additional $100,000 in cash from Abubakar on October 26, 2022, along with other cash payments totaling $980,000.
The EFCC stated that these acts violate Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and carry statutory penalties under Section 19(2)(b) of the same legislation.
The Bail Terms
In recent months, the anti-graft agency has intensified investigations into suspicious financial transactions, securing convictions and asset forfeitures in several high-profile cases as it seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.
According to NAN, the presiding judge directed that one surety must present three years of verified tax clearance certificates and maintain a residence within Abuja.
Justice Ekwo further ruled that the second surety must hold landed property in Abuja valued at no less than ₦2 billion.
Following this, the case was then adjourned to October 5 to 7, 2026, for commencement of trial.
Backstory…
The trial also comes at a time when Miyetti Allah remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial socio-cultural organisations due to its perceived role in the country’s recurring farmer-herder conflicts.
Although the group has repeatedly distanced itself from criminal activities linked to armed herders, its leaders have frequently faced public scrutiny amid rising insecurity in parts of the country.
Read Also: Miyetti Allah Leader Bodejo Faces Alleged $2.33m Money Laundering Charges
