Members of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore on Wednesday staged a protest at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for the unconditional release of detained group president, Bello Bodejo. The protesters assembled at the entrance gate of the court to make demands, carrying banners and placards inscribed with messages such as “Free Bello Bodejo,”, “DIA, Free Bodejo Now,” and “Release Bodejo”. A member, Kabir Matazu, who spoke on behalf of the group, said Bodejo’s arrest and detention was unlawful. According to him, in a democratic society, the rule of law should be sacrosanct. “You cannot arbitrarily arrest an individual without a proper charge and arraign him in court. That is why we have gathered our members from across the country to come here to agitate and also make our voice heard. We call on the Nigerian security agencies to, without further delay, free and release unconditionally, Bello Bodejo, the president of Miyetti Allah,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in reports regarding the case indicated Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court had, on March 5, fixed today for the hearing of Bodejo’s motion on notice, seeking his unconditional release from the Defence Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) custody. Justice Ekwo had, on Feb. 22, gave the Federal Government seven days to file a charge against the detained Bodejo. The judge gave the order following the expiration of the earlier order, which granted the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to remand Bodejo for 15 days in the custody of DIA pending the conclusion of his investigation. The Federal Government, in a motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/141/2024, sought an order to remand Bodejo, the sole respondent, in NIA custody pending the conclusion of investigation and arraignment in court. The motion was dated and filed on Feb. 5 by M.B. Abubakar, Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, in the office of the AGF and Minister of Justice. In the affidavit deposed to by Noma Wando, a litigation officer in the ministry, he said Bodejo was arrested on Jan. 23 in Malia, Nasarawa State, and was in custody. Wando said that his arrest was predicated on the alleged raising of an armed militia to the detriment of the nation’s unity, contrary to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to him, the suspect/respondent is being investigated for offenses that constitute a threat to national security under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
