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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the immediate imprisonment of Bello Bodejo, the leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore group, in Defense Intelligent Agency(DIA) custody.
Bodejo was arrested on January 23 at the Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State over the launch of a vigilante group.
On February 5, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), filed a motion ex-parte in which he sought to remand Bodejo pending the conclusion of the investigation and arraignment in court.
However, the DIA brought Bodejo to the court accompanied by heavily armed personnel of the service.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/141/2024, the Federal Government read three counts charge of terrorism against Bodejo, for the group he set up without prior authorisation.
The suit reads: “That you Bello Bodejo A. male, 38 years old of NO 2 Bodejo Street, Tundun Wada, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State, sometime in January 2024 did commit an offence to wit: you managed and participated in activities which, in your knowledge, is connected with act prejudicial to national security and public safety. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(3)(g)(xii) and Section 12(a) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
“That you, Bello Bodejo A. male, 38 years old of NO. 2 Bodejo Street, Tundun Wada, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State, sometime in January 2024, did commit an offence to wit: you provided material assistance logistics and transportation to 1,000 men which in your knowledge is connected with an act prejudicial to national security and public safety. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2 (3) (g) (xii) and Section 13 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022,” the charges partly read.
Bodejo, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
The counsel for the Federal Government, Mohammed Abubakar, told the court that the prosecution was ready for trial and urged it to fix a date for the commencement of the trial.
However, the counsel for the defendant, Mohammed Sheriff, challenged the competence of the charge, noting that the amendment to the charges preferred against his client was done without the leave of the court.
Ruling on his bail application, Justice Ekwo ordered that the defendant be further remanded in the custody of the DIA and then adjourned the matter till May 27 for the commencement of trial.
