The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to rule on an application by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore President Bello Bodejo seeking a review of his N2 billion bail conditions in his ongoing money laundering trial.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, on Thursday, said the court’s annual vacation, which begins on August 3, made it impossible to conclude arguments and deliver a ruling before the break.
Instead, the judge directed Bodejo’s legal team to take the application before a vacation judge, after which the case file would be returned to his court for trial.
He also retained the previously fixed trial dates of October 5, 6 and 7, 2026.
Bodejo is facing a 12-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which alleges that he laundered $2.33 million. He was arraigned on July 9.
On July 20, the court admitted him to bail in the sum of N2 billion with two sureties in like sum.
One surety must own landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), while the other must provide tax clearance certificates for 2023 to 2025.
The court also ordered Bodejo to surrender his passport, directed that the Nigeria Immigration Service be notified, and barred him from travelling within or outside Nigeria without the court’s approval.
Unable to meet the conditions, Bodejo, through his lawyer, M. E. Sheriff, applied on July 21 for a variation of the bail terms, asking the court to reduce the bail bond to N300 million with one surety in like sum.
However, EFCC counsel Fatai Erewuimi opposed the request, urging the court to retain the existing bail conditions in the interest of justice.
With Justice Ekwo declining to determine the application before the court’s vacation, Bodejo’s request will now be considered by a designated vacation judge, while the substantive trial remains scheduled for October.
(The Sun)