The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday declined to rule on an application filed by the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, seeking a reduction of the stringent ₦2 billion bail conditions imposed on him in his ongoing $2.33 million alleged money laundering trial.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo held that the application could not be determined before the commencement of the court’s annual vacation on August 3, directing Bodejo to approach a vacation judge to hear and decide the request while preserving the trial schedule already fixed by the court.
“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 judge ruled.
Justice Ekwo, however, maintained October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, as the dates for the commencement of Bodejo’s trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on July 9, 2026, arraigned the Miyetti Allah leader on a 12-count charge bordering on the alleged laundering of $2.33 million.
On July 20, the court admitted Bodejo to bail in the sum of ₦2 billion with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that the sureties must be responsible citizens, with one required to own landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), while another condition required the submission of tax clearance certificates covering 2023 to 2025.
Justice Ekwo also ordered Bodejo to surrender his international passport to the court and directed the Court Registrar to notify the Nigeria Immigration Service of its seizure. He was further barred from travelling outside Nigeria or beyond the court’s jurisdiction without prior approval.
Unable to satisfy the stringent bail terms, Bodejo, through his counsel, M. E. Sheriff, filed an application on July 21 asking the court to review the conditions by reducing the bail bond from ₦2 billion to ₦300 million with one surety in like sum.
The EFCC opposed the request. Counsel to the commission, Fatai Erewuimi, informed the court that a counter-affidavit had been filed on July 22, urging the court to dismiss the application and retain the existing bail conditions in the interest of justice.
With the ruling now deferred until a vacation judge hears the application, the Miyetti Allah leader remains unable to secure more lenient bail conditions as he prepares to face trial over the high-profile money laundering charges later this year.