Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to rule on an application seeking a review of the bail conditions granted to Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore President, Bello Bodejo, citing the court’s impending annual vacation.
Bodejo is standing trial on a 12-count charge of alleged money laundering involving $2.33 million, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was arraigned on July 9, 2026.
On July 20, the court admitted him to bail in the sum of ₦2 billion with two sureties in the same amount. One of the sureties must own landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), while the other is required to present tax clearance certificates covering the 2023 to 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 Nigeria or beyond the court’s jurisdiction without prior approval.
The case was subsequently adjourned to October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
After failing to meet the bail conditions, Bodejo, through his lawyer, M. E. Sheriff, filed an application on July 21 asking the court to review the terms of his release.
At Thursday’s proceedings, the defence urged the court to reduce the bail bond from ₦2 billion to ₦300 million and allow only one surety in the same amount.
Counsel to the EFCC, Fatai Erewuimi, opposed the request, informing the court that the prosecution had filed a counter-affidavit on July 22 asking the court to reject the application and retain the existing bail conditions.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo explained that the court’s annual vacation, scheduled to begin on August 3, would not allow enough time to conclude arguments and deliver a decision on the application.
He advised the defence to take the application before a vacation judge, who could hear the matter and deliver a ruling before returning the case file to his court for the continuation of trial.
The judge also confirmed that the previously scheduled trial dates in October remain unchanged.
