Court Grants Miyetti Allah President Bello Bodejo ₦2 Billion Bail in Alleged $2.63 Million Money Laundering Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, in his ongoing trial over allegations of laundering approximately $2.63 million.

Justice Inyang Ekwo approved Bodejo’s bail application on Monday, setting the bail at ₦2 billion with two sureties in the same amount. The court also scheduled October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

As part of the bail conditions, the court directed that one surety must be a resident of Abuja with evidence of at least three years of tax payments, while the second surety must own landed property in Abuja valued at no less than ₦2 billion. The court registrar was instructed to verify the authenticity of the property’s ownership documents before the bail can take effect.

Justice Ekwo also ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court and prohibited him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior court approval. In his ruling, the judge noted that the charges against the defendant are bailable under Nigerian law and that the court has the discretion to grant bail.

Bodejo is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations that he laundered approximately $2.63 million. He pleaded not guilty to all charges when he was arraigned before the court.

Following his arraignment, the court initially ordered that he remain in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of his bail application.

During the bail hearing, defence counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN) argued that money laundering offences are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and urged the court to release his client.

The EFCC, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Wahab Shittu, opposed the application, arguing that Bodejo had previously been investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS) over unrelated matters. The prosecution also expressed concerns that granting bail could expose the public to further risk and potentially allow the defendant to interfere with witnesses.

Despite the objections, the court ruled in favour of the defendant, granting bail under strict conditions designed to ensure his appearance throughout the trial. The case is expected to move into the trial phase in October, when both the prosecution and defence will begin presenting their evidence before the court.