Alleged: Received $2.33 Million from Bauchi State
By Suleman Ayuba
(Maiduguri) The powerful but controversial leader of Nigeria’s cattle herding cartel pleaded not guilty Thursday to 12 counts of alleged money laundering and financing terrorism in Nigeria’s nearly lawless Middle Belt. It is alleged that packets of cash totalling $2.33 million were transferred from Bauchi State government accounts to Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, the top executive of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
Bodejo was jailed twice in 2024, both for starting an illegal militia in Nasarawa State and later for links to a terrorist attack. He was ultimately cleared and released from detention by Nigeria’s High Court.
Bodejo now is facing prosecutors representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a trial that began July 9.
The charges focus on several large cash payments that totalled about $2.33 million which broke the rules that say large money transactions must go through banks. Sa’idu Abubakar, the source of the money, is already in police custody on other matters. According to TruthNigeria sources, the trial could document that monies paid out to Fulani ethnic militia acting as mercenaries to clear out indigenous farmers in Plateau State originates with the government itself. Time will tell whether the trial will prove the theory.
One of the counts states that “Bello Abdullahi Bodejo (male, adult), on or about the 11th day of January 2022, at Abuja, did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD $100,000) in physical currency from one Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigeria Police Force, without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.” This action is contrary to Section 16(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
Another serious count says that on February 7, 2024, Bodejo accepted a cash payment of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars (USD $980,000.00) in physical currency from the same Sa’idu Abubakar. This is alleged to be without routing the transaction through a financial institution. It is said to violate Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
After the plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a date for full trial and to remand Bodejo in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service. Defence counsel Ahmed Raji, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, asked the court to grant bail to his client based on an application filed on June 30, 2026.
The EFCC opposed the bail application because it believes that Bodejo is a flight risk. They told the court that because of his position and influence, he could interfere with witnesses and the trial process.
The presiding judge ordered that Bodejo should be remanded in the EFCC’s holding facility. The judge adjourned the case to July 20, 2026 for ruling on the bail application. Until that date, Bodejo will stay in EFCC custody.
This case involves a major leader of the wealthy and influential Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a group that represents herders who control up to 2 percent of the nation’s GDP. Bodejo’s ethnicity is Fulani, which is one of the largest tribes in Africa and which claims to have approximately 10 million Nigerian citizens among its members.
The large cash amounts in US dollars have raised many questions about how the money moved and why it was not sent through normal bank channels. The law in Nigeria sets limits on cash transactions to stop money laundering and other financial crimes.
The EFCC is the main agency fighting economic and financial crimes in the country. In this matter, they say the cash payments exceeded the allowed limits and were not properly reported or routed. The case is still at an early stage. The court has not yet heard full evidence or reached any final decision on guilt. Bodejo has denied all the charges.
Many people are watching this case because it involves a prominent leader of a well-known group in Nigeria. The connection to a former state Accountant-General who is already in custody adds another layer to the story. The total amount in the charges is large – over two million dollars in cash.
The EFCC has said publicly that they filed the charges to address alleged violations of money laundering laws. They want to make sure big cash deals are done properly through the banking system so that authorities can track them.
Suleman Ayuba is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
