The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Bello Abdullahi Bodejo before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering offences to the tune of $2.53 million.
The anti-graft agency filed a 12-count charge against Bodejo on June 22, 2026, accusing him of receiving and possessing large sums of foreign currency allegedly linked to proceeds of unlawful activities, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
Bodejo, who, according to the EFCC statement, is linked to Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, is expected to take his plea before the court as the EFCC begins formal prosecution.
The commission alleged that Bodejo received several cash payments in United States dollars from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, who is currently in the custody of the Nigerian Police Force.
In one of the counts, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo, on January 11, 2022, in Abuja, accepted $100,000 in physical cash without routing the transaction through a financial institution as required by law.
Another count alleged that he received an additional $200,000 in cash on January 21, 2022, from the same source, an amount the commission said exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold.
The EFCC further alleged that on February 7, 2024, Bodejo accepted $980,000 in physical currency, while another count accused him of taking possession of the same amount under circumstances where he allegedly knew or ought to have known that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The commission also alleged that he received $500,000 in cash on March 20, 2024, in breach of provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences contravene various sections of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
MEANWHILE, a High Court in Sokoto State has sentenced three people, including a citizen of the Republic of Niger, to death by hanging for terrorism and arms trafficking offences.
The convicts, identified as Jabbi Alhaji Yalle, a Nigerien national, Yusuf Muhammad, popularly known as Sallau, and Kabiru Muhammad, were found guilty by Justice Nuraddeen Muhammad Bello of Sokoto High Court.
Delivering judgment in suit number SS/45C/2026, Justice Bello held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted the three defendants on charges bordering on terrorism and illegal arms trafficking.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all monies and other exhibits recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The three men were arrested on June 13, 2025, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) Counter-Terrorism Unit over their alleged involvement in cross-border criminal activities, including terrorism and arms proliferation.
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