ABUJA — Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency is set to arraign a prominent political figure, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, before a federal high court over allegations of terrorism financing and money laundering totalling $2.53m (£2m).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 12-count criminal charge against Mr Bodejo on Monday, 22 June 2026.
The prosecution alleges that he knowingly accepted large sums of physical foreign currency linked to illegal activities, bypassing official banking channels in direct violation of Nigeria’s strict anti-money laundering laws.
Mr Bodejo, who has close political ties to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, is expected to formally enter his plea in the capital, Abuja, in the coming days.
The cash drops According to court documents seen by the BBC, the charges detail a series of massive physical cash handovers taking place between 2022 and 2024.
The EFCC alleges that Mr Bodejo received the money directly from Sa’idu Abubakar, the former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, who is currently in police custody.
The prosecution’s timeline details several major transactions:
- January 2022: Two separate physical cash payments of $100,000 and $200,000 in Abuja.
- February 2024: A single bulk delivery of $980,000 in physical currency.
- March 2024: A further cash handover of $500,000.
Under Nigerian law, statutory cash transaction limits are capped at five million naira for individuals. Investigators state that by accepting millions of dollars in raw cash without routing the funds through a registered financial institution, Mr Bodejo violated multiple provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Acts.
‘Proceeds of crime’ The state’s case hinges on proving that the accused took possession of the foreign currency while knowing, or reasonably being expected to know, that the money was derived from corruption and illicit operations.
The EFCC has stated that formal proceedings will commence immediately upon the court setting an official trial date. If convicted, Mr Bodejo faces a lengthy prison sentence under the country’s amended anti-terrorism and financial crime laws.
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