A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, Bello Bodejo, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the determination of his bail application.

Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order yesterday after Bodejo was arraigned for alleged money laundering the EFCC filed against him.

He is accused, among others, of laundering funds estimated at $2.63 million.

Bodejo pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, prompting the prosecuting lawyer, Wahab Shittu (SAN), to seek a date for trial.

Defence lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), who did not object to a trial date, prayed the court to first hear the defendant’s pending bail application, a request Shittu did not oppose.

Moving the bail application, Raji argued that the alleged offences with which Bodejo was charged bordered on money laundering, which is a bailable offence under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

He urged the court to grant the defendant bail.

In opposing the bail application, Shittu noted that there was information in the defendant’s affidavit, which revealed that Bodejo had been “a guest at the Department of State Services (DSS) for other offences”.

Arguing that Bodejo could also commit other offences if admitted to bail, Shittu added that the defendant’s complaint about ill-health was unserious because the injury he claimed to have was not a recent one.

Shittu also argued that Bodejo could interfere with the prosecution’s witnesses if granted bail, but urged the court to impose stringent conditions should it move to grant bail to the defendant.

After listening to the lawyers to both sides, Justice Ekwo adjourned till July 20 for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.

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, 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,” it read.

In count two, Bodejo was 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 was, in count three, accused him 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 was alleged to have, on or about February 7, 2024 in Abuja, without lawful authority accepted a cash payment of $980,000.00 in physical currency from Abubakar.

Bodejo was, in count five accused him of accepting $750,000.00, on or about March 3, 2024 in Abuja, from Abubakar without lawful authority.

In count six, he was 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 this 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.

He was said to have committed an offence 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.

Source: The Nation News