The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Bello Abdullahi Bodejo before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of terrorism financing and money laundering involving approximately $2.53 million.
According to the anti-graft agency, a 12-count charge was filed before the Federal High Court on Monday, June 22, 2026, accusing Bodejo of receiving and possessing large sums of foreign currency allegedly linked to proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that Bodejo is expected to enter his plea once the court fixes a date for his arraignment.
One of the charges alleges that Bodejo unlawfully accepted $100,000 in cash from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in police custody, without routing the funds through a financial institution as required by law.
Count one states:
“That you, BELLO ABDULLAHI BODEJO (male adult), on or about the 11th day of January 2022, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a 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 Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigerian Police Force, which exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of Five Million Naira (GN5,000,000.00) prescribed under Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law, and thereby committed an offence 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 charge alleges that he received an additional $200,000 from the same source under similar circumstances.
Count two reads:
“That you, BELLO ABDULLAHI BODEIO (male adult), on or about the 21st day of January 2022, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a payment of the sum of Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD $200,000.00) in physical currency from one SA’IDU ABUBAKAR, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State who is currently in the lawful custody of the Nigerian Police Force, which exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of Five Million Naira (GN5,000,000.00) prescribed under Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law, and you thereby committed an offence 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.”
Additional Transactions Under Investigation
The EFCC also alleged that Bodejo received $500,000 in physical cash on March 20, 2024, in violation of the cash transaction limits stipulated in the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another charge involves the alleged receipt of $980,000 in cash.
Count four states:
“That you, BELLO ABDULLAHI BODEJO (male adult), on or about the 7th day of February 2024, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and wilfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars (USD $980,000.00) 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, which sum exceeded the statutory cash transaction threshold of Five Million Naira (5,000,000.00) prescribed under Section 2(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”
Possession of Alleged Proceeds of Crime
The EFCC further alleged in count ten that Bodejo knowingly took possession of $980,000 believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
According to the charge, the offence falls under Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the same law.
The Commission noted that all the charges stem from alleged violations of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Further legal proceedings are expected once the court fixes a date for Bodejo’s arraignment.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
