By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday declined to rule on an application by the leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, seeking a variation of the ₦2 billion bail conditions imposed in his ongoing money laundering trial.
Justice Inyang Ekwo held that there was insufficient time to hear and determine the application before the court proceeds on its annual vacation, which begins on August 3, and advised the defendant to approach a vacation judge.
“There is no way I can take this application and rule before we proceed on vacation. I am of the opinion that you approach a vacation judge to attend to the matter and take the ruling, after which the file should be returned for trial for this court to proceed. The adjourned dates for the trial of this case are maintained,” the judge said.
Bodejo is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge bordering on the alleged laundering of $2.33 million.
He was arraigned on July 9 and, on July 20, admitted to bail in the sum of ₦2 billion with two sureties in like amount.
As part of the bail conditions, the court directed that one surety must own landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), while the second must provide tax clearance certificates for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 assessment years.
The court also ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport, directed the court registrar to notify the Nigeria Immigration Service of the seizure, and barred him from travelling outside the country or the court’s jurisdiction without prior approval.
Unable to meet the bail conditions, Bodejo, through his counsel, M. E. Sheriff, filed an application on July 21 seeking a review of the terms.
In the application, the defence urged the court to reduce the bail bond from ₦2 billion to ₦300 million and allow the defendant to provide one surety in like sum.
Counsel to the EFCC, Fatai Erewuimi, opposed the application, informing the court that the prosecution had filed a counter-affidavit on July 22 urging the court to dismiss the request and retain the existing bail conditions in the interest of justice.
Justice Ekwo declined to entertain the application before the court’s vacation, directing the defence to approach a designated vacation judge if it wished to pursue the request before the court resumes.
The judge, however, reaffirmed the previously scheduled trial dates of October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of hearing in the substantive case.