Court varies bail conditions for Miyetti Allah president

By Taiye Agbaje

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday varied the bail conditions it earlier granted the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, Bello Bodejo.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Bodejo with 2.63 million dollars money laundering.

Justice Salim Ibrahim, who is the vacation judge, granted the application after it was moved by Bodejo’s lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo, had on July 20, admitted the defendant to N2 billion bail with two sureties in like sum.

The judge ordered that one of the sureties must present a three-year tax clearance evidence and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second sureties must have a land worth N2 billion in Abuja.

Delivering the ruling after Bodejo’s lawyer moved the bail application, which was opposed to by counsel to the EFCC, Fatal Erewunmi, Justice Ibrahim said he was inclined to vary the bail terms.

The judge, who reduced the bail sum from N2 billion to N1 billion with two sureties, ordered that one of the sureties must own a landed property worth N1 billion in either Guzape, Asokoro or Maitama District in Abuja.

The judge added that the sureties must supply the court with photocopies of their driver’s licences, National Identification Number (NIN) or or international passport.

He then further ordered that the case file should be returned to Justice Ekwo’s court for the continuation of trial after vacation.

Bodejo, who was arraigned on July 9 before Justice Ekwo, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The judge then adjourned the matter until Oct. 5 for trial.

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

The EFCC said the sum exceeded the statutory cash 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.

He was said to have 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.

In count two, Bodejo is alleged to have on or about the Jan. 21, 2022, in Abuja, without lawful authority accepted a cash payment of 200,000 dollars from Abubakar, which exceeded the transaction threshold.

In count three, he is accused of accepting a cash payment of another 100,000 dollars on or about Oct. 26, 2022 in Abuja, without lawful authority from Abubakar.

In count four, Bodejo ia alleged to have on or about Feb. 7, 2024, in Abuja, without lawful authority accepted a cash payment of the sum of 980,00 dollars from Abubakar.

Bodejo is, in count five, accused of accepting 750,000 dollars on or about March 3, 2024 in Abuja, from Abubakar without lawful authority.

The offence, the EFCC said to be contrary to Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.

(NAN)