Bodejo’s Bid to Relax ₦2bn Bail Conditions Referred to Vacation Judge

A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to hear a fresh application by the detained National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, seeking to vary the stringent conditions attached to his bail in an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who granted Bodejo bail on July 20, directed the parties to approach a vacation judge to consider the application during the court's vacation, after observing that the matter might not be concluded before the court's vacation begins.

Bodejo, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was granted bail in the sum of ₦2 billion, with two sureties in like sum.

The court had imposed strict conditions on the bail, including a requirement that one of the sureties provide evidence of three years' tax clearance and reside within the court's jurisdiction.

The second surety, according to the court, must own landed property worth ₦2 billion within Abuja.

At Thursday's proceedings, Bodejo's counsel, M. E. Sheriff, informed the court that his client had filed an application seeking the variation of the bail conditions.

Counsel to the EFCC, Fatai Erewunmi, confirmed that the prosecution had been served with the application and had responded by filing a counter-affidavit.

Justice Ekwo, after considering the nature of the application and the fact that it was being contested by the prosecution, expressed concern that the court might not have sufficient time to conclude the matter before the commencement of its vacation.

The judge consequently advised the parties to approach the vacation judge for the hearing of the bail variation application and thereafter return to his court for the continuation of the substantive case.

The court subsequently adjourned the case until October 5, when the trial is scheduled to commence.

Bodejo is facing a six-count charge brought by the EFCC over alleged unlawful cash transactions involving a total of $2.63 million.

According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged transactions involved cash payments made to Bodejo by Sa'idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who, according to the prosecution, is currently in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force.

In the first count, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo, on or about January 11, 2022, in Abuja, accepted $100,000 in physical cash from Abubakar without lawful authority.

The commission alleged that the transaction exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of ₦5 million and was not routed through a financial institution as required by law.

The EFCC said the alleged offence contravened the relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.

In the second count, Bodejo was accused of accepting another $200,000 in cash from Abubakar on or about January 21, 2022, in Abuja, allegedly in breach of the prescribed cash transaction limit.

The third count relates to an alleged $100,000 cash payment received on or about October 26, 2022.

The prosecution further alleged that Bodejo received $980,000 in physical cash from Abubakar on or about February 7, 2024, forming the basis of the fourth count.

The fifth count concerns an alleged $750,000 cash payment said to have been received by Bodejo on or about March 3, 2024, while the sixth count relates to another alleged cash payment of $500,000 on or about March 20, 2024.

The EFCC contends that the transactions exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold and were not conducted through a financial institution as required by law.

The commission said the latter allegations fall under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, citing the relevant provisions prescribing the offences and penalties.

Bodejo has not been convicted of the allegations, and the case remains before the Federal High Court for trial.

The latest development means that his immediate effort to secure a relaxation of the conditions attached to his ₦2 billion bail will now be considered by a vacation judge, while the substantive trial remains scheduled to begin on October 5.