Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has declined to rule on an application seeking a review of the bail conditions granted to the leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo.
Key Highlights
- Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, declined to rule on an application seeking a review of the bail conditions granted to Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore leader, Bello Bodejo.
- Bodejo is facing a 12-count money laundering charge involving $2.33 million, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
- The court had earlier granted him ₦2 billion bail with two sureties in like sum.
- Bail conditions include:
- One surety must own landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Bodejo is facing a 12-count charge of alleged money laundering involving $2.33 million, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency arraigned him on July 9, 2026, while the court granted him bail on July 20 in the sum of ₦2 billion with two sureties in like amount.
As part of the bail conditions, the court directed that one of the sureties must own landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), while another must provide tax clearance certificates covering the 2023 to 2025 assessment years.
Justice Ekwo also ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court, directed the court registrar to notify the Nigeria Immigration Service of the seizure, and barred him from travelling outside the country or beyond the court’s jurisdiction without prior approval. The trial was scheduled for October 5, 6 and 7, 2026.
Unable to meet the conditions, Bodejo, through his lawyer, M. E. Sheriff, filed an application on July 21 seeking a variation of the bail terms.
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At Thursday’s hearing, the defence urged the court to reduce the bail bond from ₦2 billion to ₦300 million with one surety in like sum.
Counsel to the EFCC, Fatai Erewuimi, opposed the request, informing the court that the prosecution had filed a counter-affidavit on July 22, urging the court to retain the existing bail conditions in the interest of justice.
Justice Ekwo, however, said the application could not be determined before the commencement of the Federal High Court’s annual vacation on August 3, 2026.
He advised the defence to approach a vacation judge to hear and determine the application, after which the case file would be returned to his court for the continuation of trial.
The judge also affirmed that the previously fixed trial dates of October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, remain unchanged.
