Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, July 23, 2026, declined to deliver a ruling on the application for bail condition variation filed by the detained leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, citing the court's impending annual vacation and referring the matter to a vacation judge. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on July 9, 2026, arraigned Bodejo on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of $2.33 million. On Monday, July 20, 2026, the court granted him bail in the sum of N2 billion with two sureties in like sum, with stringent conditions including that one surety must be a responsible citizen and an owner of landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council, while the other must present tax clearance certificates covering 2023 to 2025. The court also ordered Bodejo to deposit his passport and barred him from travelling outside the jurisdiction without the court's permission, adjourning the trial to October 5, 6, and 7, 2026.
Unable to meet the N2 billion bail conditions, Bodejo, through his counsel, M.E. Sheriff, filed an application on July 21, 2026, seeking to reduce the bail bond to N300 million with one surety in like sum. At the hearing on Thursday, the defence counsel urged the court to scale down the bail conditions, while the prosecution counsel, Fatai Erewuimi, informed the court of his counter-affidavit, filed on July 22, 2026, wherein he urged the court to discountenance the application and maintain the status quo in the interest of justice. Justice Ekwo, however, disclosed that the annual vacation of the courts, which begins on August 3, 2026, made it impossible for him to conclude arguments and deliver a ruling on the application. "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 adjourned dates for the trial of this case are maintained," the judge said.
The ruling means that Bodejo will remain in custody until a vacation judge hears the application to vary his bail conditions. The trial dates of October 5, 6, and 7, 2026, remain unchanged, with the case file to be returned to Justice Ekwo after the vacation judge's ruling. Bodejo is facing charges of money laundering involving approximately $2.33 million, which the EFCC alleges he accepted in cash payments from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State on different dates between 2022 and 2024. He has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case continues to attract significant attention as the court navigates the complexities of the bail conditions and the impending judicial vacation.
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