- Bodejo asked to approach vacation judge
A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday turned down the request to hear a fresh application filed by detained National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, to vary the conditions attached to the bail recently granted him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bodejo for allegedly laundering $2.63 milion.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted him bail on July 20 at N2 billion 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 landed property worth N2 billion in Abuja.
At the mention of the case yesterday, Bodejo’s lawyer, M. E. Sheriff, informed the court about the application by his client, seeking, among others, the variation of the conditions attached to the bail granted him.
The prosecution lawyer, Fatai Erewunmi, said he was served with the application and had filed a counter-affidavit to it.
Intervening, Justice Ekwo said upon looking at the tenure of the application, which is being contested, the court may be unable to conclude proceedings in the application before the court’s vacation.
The judge advised the parties to approach a vacation judge (during the court’s vacation) to hear the application and, subsequently return with the substantive case for trial before his court.
He adjourned till October 5 for the commencement of trial.
Bodejo is, in count one, alleged to have, on or about January 11, 2022 in Abuja, without lawful authority, accepted a cash payment of $100,000 in physical currency from Sa’idu Abubakar, said to be 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 transaction threshold of N5 million 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 January 21, 2022, in Abuja, without lawful authority accepted a cash payment of $200,000.00 in physical currency from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former AG of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigerian Police Force, which exceeded the transaction threshold.
He is, in count three, accused of accepting a cash payment of another $100,000.00 on or about October 26, 2022, in Abuja, without lawful authority from Abubakar.
In count four, Bodejo ia alleged to have, on or about February 7, 2024, in Abuja, without lawful authority accepted a cash payment of the sum of $980,000.00 in physical currency from Abubakar.
Bodejo is, in count five, accused of accepting $750,000.00, on or about March 3, 2024, in Abuja, from Abubakar without lawful authority.
In count six, he is alleged to have, on or about March 20, 2024, in Abuja, accepted a cash payment of $500,000.00 in physical currency from Abubakar without lawful authority.
The EFCC said the amount exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of N5 million prescribed under Section 2(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.
The offence is 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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.