- Over alleged $2.63m money laundering, terrorism financing
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, arraigned the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, Bello Bodejo before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and terrorism financing involving $2.63 million.
Bodejo was brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo, where he pleaded not guilty to all the counts after the charges, dated June 24 and filed on June 25, 2026, were read to him.
The anti-graft agency, through its counsel, Wahab Shittu (SAN), informed the court that the matter was fixed for the defendant to enter his plea. Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, did not object, allowing the arraignment to proceed.
According to the charge, the EFCC accused the Miyetti Allah leader of laundering approximately $2.63 million and engaging in transactions allegedly linked to the financing of terrorism, offences said to contravene the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
After taking the defendant’s plea, Justice Ekwo entertained submissions from both parties on his bail application.
The defence urged the court to admit Bodejo to bail on liberal terms, arguing that he had consistently made himself available to law enforcement agencies and posed no flight risk.
The prosecution did not oppose the application but urged the court to impose conditions that would guarantee the defendant’s attendance throughout the trial.
Justice Ekwo subsequently admitted Bodejo to bail on terms to be fulfilled before the court registrar and adjourned the matter to a later date for the commencement of trial.
The fresh charges come months after Bodejo separately faced prosecution by the Federal government over the alleged establishment of an unauthorised vigilante outfit, a case that generated nationwide debate over community security initiatives and the regulation of private armed groups.