Alleged $2.63m Money Laundering: Court Remands Miyetti Allah President, Bodejo

The National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Bello Bodejo, has been remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after he was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering involving about $2.63 million.

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the remand order on Thursday, July 9, after Bodejo was brought before the court on a multi-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), asked the court to fix a date for trial.

Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), did not oppose the request but urged the court to first determine his client’s application for bail.

Arguing the application, Raji maintained that the offences alleged against Bodejo were bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and urged the court to grant his client bail pending trial.

The prosecution opposed the application, contending that Bodejo’s own affidavit disclosed that he had previously been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over other allegations.

Shittu also argued that granting bail could expose the prosecution’s witnesses to interference and alleged that the defendant’s claim of ill-health was not supported by compelling evidence.

He, however, urged the court to impose stringent conditions if it decided to grant bail.

After listening to both parties, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until July 20 for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that Bodejo remain in the custody of the EFCC pending that decision.

According to the charge, Bodejo allegedly received several cash payments from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without routing the funds through a financial institution as required by law.

The EFCC alleged that on January 11, 2022, he accepted $100,000 in cash, while on January 21, 2022, he allegedly received another $200,000 from the same source.

The commission further accused him of accepting an additional $100,000 on October 26, 2022, $980,000 on February 7, 2024, $750,000 on March 3, 2024, and $500,000 on March 20, 2024.

According to the prosecution, the cash transactions exceeded the statutory limits prescribed under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, because they were allegedly conducted outside recognised financial institutions.

The EFCC said the alleged offences contravene the relevant provisions of the money laundering laws and are punishable under the respective Acts.