Court imposes stringent conditions as EFCC prosecution over alleged multi-million dollar cash transactions heads for trial in October
By Aisha Usman
ABUJA, Nigeria | July 20, 2026
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, in the sum of ₦2 billion following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of money laundering involving approximately $2.63 million.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the ruling on Monday, held that the offences contained in the charge are bailable under Nigerian law but imposed strict conditions aimed at ensuring the defendant’s availability throughout the trial.
The ruling marks a significant development in one of the country’s closely watched financial crime prosecutions involving a prominent socio-cultural leader, even as the court stressed that Bodejo remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Court Sets Tough Bail Conditions
In granting bail, Justice Ekwo ordered that the defendant must provide one surety in the like sum of ₦2 billion.
The court further directed that the surety must:
- Reside within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja;
- Possess a minimum of three years’ tax clearance certificates;
- Own landed property valued at ₦2 billion within Abuja;
- Submit all relevant property documents for verification by the court registrar.
The judge also ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court and prohibited him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior judicial approval.
Justice Ekwo noted that although the allegations involve serious financial crimes, Nigerian law classifies the offences as bailable, giving the court discretionary powers to admit the defendant to bail under appropriate conditions.
Trial Scheduled for October
Following the bail ruling, the court fixed October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of full trial.
The dates are expected to provide both the prosecution and defence adequate time to prepare witnesses and documentary evidence relating to the alleged financial transactions.
Background to the EFCC Prosecution
The EFCC arraigned Bodejo on multiple counts of alleged money laundering after filing charges before the Federal High Court in June.
The anti-graft agency alleges that the Miyetti Allah leader unlawfully received substantial cash payments in United States dollars outside Nigeria’s regulated financial system, contrary to provisions of the country’s Money Laundering laws.
The charges, dated June 24 and filed on June 25, name Bodejo as the sole defendant.
At his arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against him.
Prosecution’s Allegations
According to the EFCC, Bodejo allegedly received cash payments totalling approximately $2.63 million from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in police custody in connection with separate investigations.
The Commission alleges that the transactions were conducted in physical cash rather than through recognised financial institutions as required by law.
Among the allegations are claims that Bodejo received:
- $100,000 on January 11, 2022;
- $200,000 on January 21, 2022;
- $100,000 on October 26, 2022;
- $980,000 on February 7, 2024;
- $750,000 on March 3, 2024;
- $500,000 on March 20, 2024.
The EFCC contends that each transaction exceeded statutory cash transaction limits prescribed under both the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The agency argues that accepting such amounts in cash without processing them through licensed financial institutions constitutes an offence under Nigerian anti-money laundering legislation.
Defence Insists Charges Are Bailable
During the bail hearing, defence counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN) urged the court to admit his client to bail, arguing that all offences contained in the charge are bailable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
He maintained that there was no legal basis for continued detention pending trial.
Counsel to the EFCC, Wahab Shittu (SAN), opposed the application and urged the court to remand the defendant while the case proceeds.
After considering arguments from both sides, Justice Ekwo ruled in favour of the bail application while attaching stringent conditions.
Legal Issues at the Centre of the Case
At the heart of the prosecution is Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework, which regulates high-value cash transactions.
The law requires that transactions exceeding prescribed monetary thresholds be conducted through recognised financial institutions to enhance transparency, prevent illicit financial flows and strengthen financial accountability.
The EFCC alleges that the transactions attributed to Bodejo breached those statutory requirements.
The defendant has denied all allegations.
As criminal proceedings continue, the court will determine whether the prosecution can establish the essential elements of the offences beyond reasonable doubt.
Why the Case Matters
The prosecution comes amid renewed efforts by Nigerian authorities to strengthen enforcement of anti-money laundering regulations and improve compliance with international financial crime standards.
Financial crime experts note that enforcement of reporting requirements for large cash transactions remains a critical component of Nigeria’s commitments under global anti-money laundering frameworks.
The outcome of the case could therefore have implications beyond the parties involved, particularly regarding enforcement of financial transparency laws and public confidence in the administration of justice.
Legal analysts also observe that the proceedings will test the prosecution’s ability to prove that the alleged transactions occurred in the manner described in the charge.
Presumption of Innocence Remains
Under Nigeria’s Constitution and established principles of criminal justice, Bello Bodejo remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a competent court of law.
The allegations contained in the EFCC’s charges remain subject to judicial determination.
The court’s decision to grant bail should not be interpreted as a finding on the merits of the case.
With bail now granted under strict conditions, attention shifts to the substantive trial scheduled to commence in October.
The proceedings are expected to examine documentary evidence, witness testimonies and financial records relating to the alleged transactions.
As the case unfolds, it will likely remain under close public scrutiny, not only because of the profile of the defendant but also because of its broader implications for Nigeria’s anti-money laundering enforcement regime and the integrity of the country’s financial regulatory system.
Until the court delivers judgment, the allegations remain allegations, and the legal process will determine the outcome based on the evidence presented.
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