Alleged money laundering: Court reduces Bodejo’s bail to N1 billion

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reduced the N2 billion bail earlier granted to the detained National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo.

DAILY POST reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, prosecuted Bodejo for allegedly laundering $2.63 million.

Recall that Justice Inyang Ekwo, before whom Bodejo was arraigned, had granted him bail on 20 July in the sum of N2 billion, with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Ekwo ordered that one of the sureties must present evidence of three years’ tax clearance and reside within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second must own landed property worth N2 billion in Abuja.

However, in a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Salim Ibrahim, sitting as a vacation judge, granted Bodejo’s application to vary some of the bail terms.

Justice Ibrahim reduced the bail sum from N2 billion to N1 billion, with two sureties, one of whom must own landed property worth N1 billion in either Guzape, Asokoro or Maitama, Abuja.

The judge added that the sureties must also provide the court with photocopies of their driver’s licence, National Identification Number, NIN, or international passport.

He then ordered that the case file be returned to Justice Ekwo’s court for the continuation of the substantive hearing.

Bodejo was arraigned on 9 July on a six-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty.