The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, Bello Bodejo, who is standing trial over an alleged $2.63 million money laundering case.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Inyang Ekwo admitted Bodejo to bail in the sum of N2 billion with two sureties in like amount.
The court ordered that one of the sureties must be an Abuja resident and provide evidence of three years’ tax clearance, while the second surety must own landed property in Abuja valued at N2 billion.
Justice Ekwo also directed Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court registrar and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.
The judge held that the offences brought against the defendant are bailable and exercised the court’s discretion in granting his application.
Following the ruling, Justice Ekwo fixed October 5, 6 and 7 for the commencement of trial.
Bodejo had been remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on July 9 after he was arraigned on charges bordering on alleged money laundering.
The EFCC, through its counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), filed the charge on June 25, naming Bodejo as the sole defendant in the case.
The Miyetti Allah leader pleaded not guilty to all the counts after they were read to him in court.
Following his plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant pending the hearing of the case.
Counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji (SAN), however, asked the court to grant his client bail, arguing that the application, filed on June 30, was based on the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Raji maintained that the alleged offences are bailable under the law and urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the defendant.
The prosecution opposed the application, but the court ultimately granted bail subject to the conditions outlined in its ruling.