Miyetti Allah President Bodejo Pleads Not Guilty to $2.63m Money Laundering Charges

Bodejo appeared before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday, where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) formally arraigned him on the charges. Counsel to the EFCC, Wahab Shittu (SAN), informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendant to take his plea. Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), raised no objection, paving the way for the charges to be read.

After the 12-count charge was read in open court, Bodejo pleaded not guilty to all the allegations.

According to court documents, the EFCC filed the 12-count charge against Bodejo on June 22, 2026, accusing him of receiving and possessing large sums of foreign currency allegedly linked to proceeds of unlawful activities, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The commission alleged that Bodejo accepted multiple cash payments ranging from $100,000 to $980,000 from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa'idu Abubakar, without routing the transactions through any financial institution as required by law.

Specific counts detailed in the charge sheet include an allegation that Bodejo accepted $100,000 in physical currency from Abubakar on January 11, 2022, followed by $200,000 on January 21, 2022, and $500,000 on March 20, 2024. Count four of the charge further alleged that on February 7, 2024, Bodejo accepted a cash payment of $980,000 from Abubakar in Abuja, in an amount that exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold prescribed under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

The EFCC also accused Bodejo of possessing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity, alleging that he took possession of the $980,000 under circumstances in which he knew or reasonably ought to have known that the money constituted proceeds of crime.

Following his not-guilty plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant. Justice Ekwo subsequently ordered that Bodejo remain in EFCC custody pending the determination of his bail application, adjourning the matter until July 20, 2026, for a ruling.

The court noted that the alleged offences contravene Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.

Bodejo, a prominent Fulani socio-cultural leader, was arrested in May by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) hours after holding a campaign rally in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital. He was subsequently transferred to Abuja to face interrogation by the EFCC over the alleged money laundering and terrorism-related offences.

The Miyetti Allah leader had earlier declared his intention to contest the Taraba Central Senatorial District seat under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He has also been linked to Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, according to earlier EFCC statements.

The case, which continues to draw significant public attention given Bodejo's prominence in Nigeria's herder-farmer relations discourse, is expected to proceed further when the matter resumes on July 20 for the ruling on his bail application.