The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday reduced the N2 billion bail bond imposed on the national president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, who is facing money laundering charges.
Judge Salim Ibrahim scaled down the bail bond to N1 billion in a ruling following an application by Mr Bodejo’s lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff.
Mr Bodejo was arraigned before Judge Inyang Ekwo on 9 July on six charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He pleaded not guilty, and the case was adjourned until 5 October for trial. The alleged offences include receiving dollar cash, traced to the Bauchi State Government, that was higher than the cash transaction treshold permited by the Nigerian anti-money laundering law.
On 20 July, Judge Ekwo granted him N2 billion bail with two sureties. The judge ordered one surety, who must be resident in Abuja, to present evidence of three years’ tax clearance and the second to produce evidence of ownership of landed property worth N2 billion in the federal capital.
The judge also fixed 5, 6 and 7 October to kick off trial.
