The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering and terrorism financing.
Bodejo was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving about $2.33 million.
The charge, dated June 24, 2026, and filed on June 25, 2026, named Bodejo as the sole defendant.
When the matter was called, EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, informed the court that the case was scheduled for the defendant to take his plea.
The defence counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, did not oppose the application.
After the charge was read to him, Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
In one of the counts, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo, on or about January 11, 2022, in Abuja, accepted a cash payment of $100,000 in physical currency from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State.
The Commission alleged that the money exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold prescribed under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and was not routed through a financial institution as required by law.
In another count, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo, on February 7, 2024, accepted $980,000 in physical cash from the former Bauchi State Accountant-General without passing the transaction through a financial institution.
The anti-graft agency said the alleged transaction contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC had earlier alleged that Bodejo received and possessed large sums of foreign currency suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The Commission also linked some of the alleged transactions to an ongoing case involving Bauchi State Government officials, including the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and other civil servants.
The prosecution alleged that funds belonging to the Bauchi State Government were released to Bodejo and others under circumstances now being investigated as alleged money laundering and terrorism financing.
Following Bodejo’s plea, Shittu asked the court for a trial date and also applied for the defendant to be remanded in custody.
Raji, however, urged the court to admit his client to bail, relying on a bail application filed on June 30, 2026.
The EFCC opposed the bail request, drawing the court’s attention to its 28-paragraph counter-affidavit dated July 6, 2026.
The prosecution argued that the defendant should not be granted bail, alleging that he could pose a public risk and may interfere with witnesses because of his influence.
Justice Ekwo ordered that Bodejo be remanded in EFCC custody pending ruling on his bail application.
The matter was adjourned until July 20, 2026, for ruling on bail.
Bodejo has not been convicted of the allegations.
The post “Not Guilty” — EFCC Arraigns Miyetti Allah Leader Bodejo Over Alleged $2.33m Money Laundering appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.