A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, at N2 billion, with two sureties in like sum.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bodejo for allegedly laundering $2.63 million.
In a ruling yesterday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that one of the sureties must present three years’ tax clearance evidence and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Ekwo, who also ordered that the second surety must have a land worth N2 billion in Abuja, held that documents of the property should be verified by the court’s registrar.
The judge also ordered Bodejo to deposit his international passport with the court’s registrar and must not travel outside the country without the leave of the court.
He held that the offences the defendant is facing are bailable ones and that the court has the discretionary power, which he should exercise in the defendant’s favour. Justice Ekwo adjourned till October 5 for the commencement of trial.
Bodejo is, in count one, alleged to have, on or about January 11, 2022 in Abuja, without lawful authority, accepted a cash payment of the sum 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 transaction through a financial institution, as required by law.
He defendant 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 said.
In count two, Bodejo is 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 Accountant General of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigerian Police Force, which exceeded the transaction threshold.
He is, in count three, accused 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 ia 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 is, 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 is 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, without routing the transaction through a financial institution, as required by law.
The offence is said to be 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.
Leave a comment