The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of money laundering and terrorism financing involving about $2.53 million.
According to the anti-graft agency, Bodejo will face a 12-count charge bordering on alleged unlawful receipt and possession of large sums of foreign currency suspected to be linked to proceeds of criminal activities.
The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 22, 2026, mark the latest legal challenge involving the leader of the prominent Fulani socio-cultural association.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Bodejo was accused of receiving several cash payments in United States dollars from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without routing the transactions through any financial institution as required by Nigerian law.
The Commission alleged that the transactions violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to court documents, one of the charges alleged that Bodejo knowingly accepted $100,000 in physical cash from Abubakar on January 11, 2022, in Abuja.
The EFCC said the transaction exceeded the legal threshold allowed for cash payments and was not processed through a bank or other recognised financial institution as required by law.
Another count alleged that Bodejo received an additional $200,000 in cash from the same source on January 21, 2022, also outside the banking system.
Investigators further claimed that on March 20, 2024, he accepted another cash payment of $500,000 from Abubakar.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that one of the largest transactions occurred on February 7, 2024, when Bodejo allegedly received $980,000 in physical cash in Abuja.
According to the charge sheet, the EFCC believes the transactions breached anti-money laundering regulations designed to ensure transparency in financial dealings and prevent the movement of illicit funds within and outside the country.
Part of the charge stated that Bodejo knowingly accepted the funds without lawful authority and without passing the transactions through financial institutions as stipulated by law.
The Commission argued that such transactions make it difficult for authorities to trace the origin and destination of funds and could potentially aid criminal activities.
Beyond the allegations relating to cash payments, the EFCC also accused Bodejo of possessing money suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
One of the counts stated that he allegedly took possession of $980,000 on or about February 7, 2024, under circumstances in which he knew or reasonably ought to have known that the money was connected to unlawful activity.
The Commission maintained that the alleged offences are punishable under relevant provisions of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
Although details of the alleged terrorism financing claims have not yet been fully disclosed in the public documents released by the EFCC, the charges indicate that investigators linked some of the financial transactions to activities that raised concerns under laws relating to terrorism financing.
Bodejo is expected to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja in the coming days to enter his plea to the charges.
Under Nigerian law, every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.
The forthcoming arraignment is expected to attract significant public attention due to Bodejo’s position as the leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, one of the most prominent Fulani associations in Nigeria.
The organisation has often been involved in national discussions on security, grazing rights, farmer-herder relations and rural development.
Over the years, Miyetti Allah has been a major stakeholder in debates surrounding clashes between herders and farming communities in different parts of the country. The association has frequently spoken on issues affecting pastoralists and has engaged with federal and state governments on policies concerning livestock management and security.
Bodejo himself has remained a controversial figure in recent years, particularly following efforts to establish a security outfit known as Kungiya Zaman Lafiya. The initiative generated widespread debate and attracted scrutiny from security agencies and government authorities.
The latest charges against him come at a time when Nigerian authorities are intensifying efforts to combat money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial crimes.
In recent years, the EFCC, in collaboration with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies, has increased investigations into suspicious financial transactions involving public officials, business executives, organisations and private individuals.
The Federal Government has also strengthened anti-money laundering regulations in line with international standards promoted by global financial watchdogs. These measures are aimed at improving transparency, tracking illicit financial flows and preventing criminal groups from using the financial system to fund illegal activities.
The EFCC has repeatedly warned individuals and organisations against conducting large cash transactions outside the banking system, stressing that violations can lead to prosecution.
As the case moves to court, attention will focus on the evidence to be presented by the prosecution and the defence that may be offered by Bodejo and his legal team.
For now, the EFCC insists that its investigation uncovered sufficient evidence to justify the charges, while the court will ultimately determine the merits of the allegations.
The outcome of the case could have wider implications for the enforcement of anti-money laundering regulations and the fight against terrorism financing in Nigeria.