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 determination of his bail application.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order on Thursday after Bodejo was arraigned on a money-laundering charge brought by the EFCC.
He is accused, among other things, of laundering funds estimated at $2.63 million.
Bodejo pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, after which the prosecuting lawyer, Wahab Shittu (SAN), sought 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.
In moving the bail application, Raji argued that the alleged offences with which Bodejo was charged bordered on money laundering, 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 the defendant’s affidavit contained information revealing that Bodejo had been “a guest at the Department of State Services (DSS) for other offences.”
Shittu further argued that Bodejo could commit other offences if admitted to bail, and that the defendant’s complaint about ill-health was unserious because the injury he claimed to have was not recent.
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 be minded to grant bail to the defendant.
Justice Ekwo, after hearing the lawyers for both sides, adjourned the matter until July 20 to rule 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), and was not routed 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 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 of accepting another $100,000.00 in cash 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 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 exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of N5 million prescribed under Section 2(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and was not routed 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 to be punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
Leave a comment