Mohammed Musa, brother of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore President Bello Bodejo, has stated that he did not take part in creating an ethnic militia group called Kungiya Zaman Lafiya.
This was stated in a legal document supporting Bodejo’s request for bail dated March 28, 2024.
Musa explained that his brother only had a registered security company that provided security services and promoted peace in the community.
He mentioned, “The defendant/applicant did not establish or have any involvement with the Kungiya Zaman Lafiya ethnic militia group as claimed in the charges brought against him on the 12th of March 2024.
“The defendant/applicant only established a security company which was properly registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 as Nomad Vigilante Nigeria Limited, as opposed to an ethnic militia known as Kungiya Zaman Lafiya as alleged by the complainant in the charge preferred against the defendant/applicant.
“The purpose of establishing the security company is to provide security services to the community and promote peace, not to commit any terrorist acts at all.”
In a response dated April 2 filed by a litigation clerk in the Department of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Noma Wando, the Federal Government asked the court to reject Bodejo's bail application.
He pointed out that contrary to Bodejo's statement, the defendant is not facing a life-threatening illness.
Wando also claimed the defendant would not show up for trial if granted bail.
He said, “The facts presented in the affidavit regarding the illness and heart failure, among others, have not been proven to be strong, believable, relevant, or genuine to support his request for the court to rule in his favor.
“The defendant/applicant will not appear for his trial if granted bail due to the seriousness of the alleged crimes and the harshness of the punishment prescribed by law.”
Bodejo was arrested on January 23 at the Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu LGA of Nasarawa State for supposedly revealing a militia group.
The Miyetti Allah leader was brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on three charges of terrorism on March 22, 2024.
At the hearing for his bail application on Wednesday, the defendant's lawyer, Dr. Sulaiman Usman, requested a postponement, stating that the FG had raised new concerns in their response that they needed to address.
The prosecution attorney, Y. A Imana, did not object to Usman's request for a postponement.
Usman made a verbal request to the court for an order requiring the DIA to grant Bodejo access to his lawyers.
He also stated that the defendant needed access to his lawyers as well as ample time to prepare for his trial.
Usman said, “We ask your honor to instruct the DIA to provide the defendant with access to his lawyers. He needs to be ready for the trial.”
However, Imana disagreed with Usman's claim that Bodejo was denied access to his lawyers.
She said, “I disagree with him. After the last time the court ordered him to receive medical attention and lawyers, we contacted them and the response we received was that the lawyer had visited him.”
Ekwo, however, stated, “Inform the court if you are ever denied access to him.”
