Detained President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo has been charged with terrorism.
The Federal Government which filed the charges on March 12, accused Bodejo of undermining Nigeria’s security by setting up and arming an ethnic militia group without authorization.
Part of the charges read: “That you, Bello Bodejo, Male, Adult, on or before the 17th Day of January 2024, at Lafia, Nasarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence to wit: you established an ethnic militia known as Kungiyar Zaman Lafiya without authorization and thereby committed an act prejudicial to national security and public safety, an offence punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Security agents arrested Bodejo on January 23 at Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State for the alleged unveiling and arming of a vigilante group.
Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), filed a motion ex parte before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 5, demanding that Bodejo be remanded pending the conclusion of the investigation by DIA and his arraignment in court.
Justice Ekwo granted the ex parte application and ordered the remand of Bodejo for 15 days.
The 15 days expired on February 22, and the judge gave the Federal Government seven days to file a charge against Bodejo, which it failed to do.
However, at Wednesday’s proceedings, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja declined to produce the detained President of Miyetti Allah before the Federal High Court for arraignment.
Following the absence of the detainee in court, Justice Ekwo asked the FG’s counsel Y.A. Imana, if charges had been filed against Bodejo.
The judge said, “This court made an order that you should charge the detainee before a court of competent jurisdiction. Where is the evidence that you filed the charges before this court?”
Imana, however, confirmed that the charge was filed, but the judge wondered why the charge was not before him.
At this point, Bodejo’s counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, told the Court that he had filed an application seeking his client’s unconditional release from the Defence Intelligence Agency’s custody.
The counsel pleaded with the court to hear the bail application of his client.
He said, “Our bail application is dated February 26, 2024, and is seeking to admit the applicant to bail pending arraignment before a competent court.”
Imana, however, vehemently objected to the request for bail of the detainee on the grounds that charges against him have to do with undermining the national security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and urged the court to dismiss the application.
She said, “We pray this court to dismiss the bail application of the detainee because it is a matter that touches on national security.”
Justice Ekwo, after taking arguments from lawyers, fixed March 22 for ruling on whether to grant the bail request or not.
