The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday varied the bail conditions it earlier granted the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, Bello Bodejo.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Bodejo with $2.63 million money laundering.
Justice Salim Ibrahim, the vacation judge, granted the application after it was moved by Bodejo’s lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff.
Justice Inyang Ekwo had on July 20 admitted the defendant to N2 billion bail with two sureties in like sum. The judge ordered that one surety present a three-year tax clearance and reside within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second must have land worth N2 billion in Abuja.
Delivering the ruling after EFCC counsel Fatal Erewunmi opposed the application, Justice Ibrahim said he was inclined to vary the bail terms.
The judge reduced the bail sum from N2 billion to N1 billion with two sureties, and ordered that one surety must own landed property worth N1 billion in Guzape, Asokoro or Maitama District in Abuja.
He also ordered that the sureties supply photocopies of their driver’s licences, National Identification Number (NIN) or international passport.
The case file was returned to Justice Ekwo’s court for continuation of trial after vacation.
Bodejo, arraigned on July 9 before Justice Ekwo, pleaded not guilty. The matter was adjourned to Oct. 5 for trial.
EFCC alleged that between Jan. 11, 2022 and March 3, 2024, Bodejo accepted cash payments totalling $2.63m from Sa’idu Abubakar, former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, without routing the transactions through a financial institution, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Acts.
