The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal-Hore, in the sum of N2 billion over alleged money laundering offences involving $2.63 million.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on Monday, approved Bodejo’s bail application and ordered him to provide two sureties who must each stand in the same amount.
The court directed that one of the sureties must submit three years’ tax clearance and be a resident of Abuja. The second surety must own property in Abuja valued at N2 billion.
Justice Ekwo also ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court registrar and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.
The judge held that the offences against the defendant were bailable and that the court had the discretion to grant bail under the circumstances.
The matter has been adjourned to October 5, 6 and 7 for the commencement of trial.
Bodejo was remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on July 9 following his arraignment on alleged money laundering charges.
The EFCC, through its counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, filed the charge against Bodejo, who was listed as the sole defendant. The charge was dated June 24 and filed on June 25.
Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the counts after the charges were read to him.
His lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN, had applied for bail, arguing that the alleged offences were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The EFCC opposed the bail application, but the court ruled in favour of granting conditional bail.
