ABUJA, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned the leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 9, 2026, over alleged money laundering involving $2.33 million.
The anti-graft agency stated on its official X account that the defendant appeared before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo on a 12-count charge bordering on violations of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act. Golden Info reports that Bello Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him.
Following the plea, the prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), requested the court to establish a trial date and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service. Shittu argued that the defendant posed a flight risk, could interfere with the case, and noted that Nigeria’s Department of State Services was monitoring him. Shittu stated, “being an influential person, he may manipulate the witnesses and progress of the case.”
The defence counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), requested that the court admit the defendant to bail based on an application previously filed on June 30, 2026. Justice Ekwo denied immediate bail, ordering the defendant to be remanded in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and adjourned the matter until July 20, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application.
According to the details of the charges, the defendant allegedly received $100,000 in cash from a former Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sa’idu Abubakar, without routing the transaction through a financial institution. The specific count states: “That you, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo… did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD $100,000.00)… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.”
A separate count in the charge sheet alleged that the defendant accepted an additional $980,000 in cash from Sa’idu Abubakar in February 2024, violating the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The count states: “That you… did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars (USD $980,000.00)… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.