The Federal High Court in Abuja has varied some of the terms attached to the N2 billion bail earlier granted to the detained National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo.
Bodejo is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering $2.63 million.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted him bail on July 20 in the sum of N2 billion, with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Ekwo ordered that one of the sureties must present evidence of three years’ tax clearance and reside within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second surety must own a landed property worth N2 billion in Abuja.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Salim Ibrahim, sitting as a vacation judge, granted Bodejo’s application for the variation of some of the bail conditions earlier imposed.
Justice Ibrahim reduced the bail sum from N2 billion to N1 billion and ordered that Bodejo provide two sureties, one of whom must own a landed property worth N1 billion in either Guzape, Asokoro or Maitama, Abuja.
The judge added that the sureties must provide the court with photocopies of their driver’s licences, National Identification Number (NIN) slips or international passports.
He further ordered that the case file be returned to Justice Ekwo’s court for the continuation of the substantive hearing.
Bodejo was arraigned on July 9 on a six-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty.
In count one, Bodejo is 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 of Bauchi State, who is currently in the custody of the Nigeria 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.
According to the commission, the act constitutes an offence contrary to Section 16(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and is punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
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 in physical currency from Abubakar, which also exceeded the statutory transaction threshold.
In count three, he is accused of accepting another $100,000 in cash from Abubakar on or about October 26, 2022, in Abuja, without lawful authority.
In count four, Bodejo is alleged to have, on or about February 7, 2024, in Abuja, without lawful authority, accepted a cash payment of $980,000 in physical currency from Abubakar.
In count five, he is accused of accepting $750,000 in cash from Abubakar on or about March 3, 2024, in Abuja, 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 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 commission said the alleged offence is 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.
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