The Defence Intelligence Agency was not able to bring Bello Bodejo, the detained President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, to court for trial on Wednesday.
However, the court has scheduled March 22 as the date to decide on his request to be released on bail.
Bodejo was taken into custody on January 23 at the Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State for the unveiling of a vigilante group.
On February 5, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), filed a motion ex parte seeking to keep Bodejo in custody until the investigation is completed and he is brought before the court.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that Bodejo be kept in custody for 15 days.
After the 15 days had passed on February 22, the judge gave the FG seven days to officially charge Bodejo.
During the previous court session, the judge reiterated his order for Bodejo to be presented before a competent court of jurisdiction.
In addition, Bodejo’s lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, submitted a request for his immediate release from the Defence Intelligence Agency’s custody.
On Wednesday, Bodejo was absent from the court proceedings.
The judge inquired with the prosecution counsel, Y.A. Imana, about the filing of charges against Bodejo.
The judge asked, “The court ordered you to charge the defendant before a court with the proper authority. Where is the proof of filing before this court?”
Imana responded, “It was filed yesterday.”
The judge mentioned that the charge was not presented to him.
Sheriff then requested the court to consider his bail application.
He stated, “Our application, dated February 26, 2024, seeks to grant the applicant bail until his trial before a competent court.”
The prosecution counsel urged the court to reject the application.
She stated, “We request this court to dismiss the defendant's application because it involves matters of national security.”
Justice Ekwo postponed the ruling on Bodejo’s bail application until March 22.
Meanwhile, in a charge dated March 12, the FG accused Bodejo of establishing an ethnic militia group without authorization.
The charge read, “That you, Bello Bodejo, male, adult, on or before the 17th day of January. 2024, at Lafia, Nassarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed to commit an offence to wit: you established an ethnic militia known as Kungiya Zaman Lafiya without authorization and thereby committed an act prejudicial to national security and public safety, and on offence punishable under Section of 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
