The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday reduced the N2 billion bail bond for Bello Bodejo, the national president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore. He is facing money laundering charges.
Judge Salim Ibrahim lowered the bail bond to N1 billion. This decision followed a request from Mr Bodejo's lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff.
Mr Bodejo was first brought to court by Judge Inyang Ekwo on 9 July. He faced six charges from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He pleaded not guilty. The trial is now set for 5 October. The charges include receiving cash in dollars, linked to the Bauchi State Government, which exceeded the cash limit allowed by Nigeria's anti-money laundering law.
On 20 July, Judge Ekwo had granted Mr Bodejo N2 billion bail with two sureties. One surety must live in Abuja and show proof of three years' tax clearance. The second must provide evidence of owning property worth N2 billion in the capital.
The judge set 5, 6, and 7 October to start the trial. Three days later, Mr Bodejo asked for a relaxation of the bail conditions. But Judge Ekwo refused to hear this request.
In his ruling, Judge Ekwo explained that since the EFCC opposed the request, the court might not finish proceedings before the annual vacation started. The vacation began on Monday, 27 July.
The judge suggested that both parties go to a vacation judge to hear the application. After that, the main case could return to his court for trial.
During Wednesday's hearing, EFCC lawyer Fatal Erewunmi opposed the request to change the bail conditions. But Judge Ibrahim was convinced by the defense and decided to lower the bail bond to N1 billion.
Judge Ibrahim ordered Mr Bodejo to find two sureties for the bail bond. One of the sureties must own property valued at N1 billion in Guzape, Asokoro, or Maitama District of Abuja.
He also told the sureties to submit photocopies of their driver's licenses, National Identification Numbers (NINs), or passports to the court. Judge Ibrahim instructed that the case file be returned to Judge Ekwo for the trial to continue after the court's annual vacation.
The EFCC accused Mr Bodejo of taking $100,000 from Sa'idu Abubakar, a former Accountant General of Bauchi State. Abubakar is currently in police custody. The EFCC also mentioned other cash payments in foreign currency.
The EFCC stated that the amount exceeded the legal cash transaction limit of N5 million under Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended). This was done without going through a financial institution as required by law.
The commission said this act violates 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.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇