The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, has scheduled May 30 as the date for deciding on a bail request submitted by Bello Bodejo, the detained head of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
Bodejo is facing allegations of unlawfully founding an ethnic militia group called Kungiya Zaman Lafiya to advance terrorism. He has been held by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja.
Charged in March with three counts under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Bodejo has pleaded not guilty.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Ahmed Raji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) representing Bodejo, urged Justice Ekwo to grant bail to his client based on several reasons such as health issues and infringement of fundamental rights.
Raji requested the court to grant bail to Bodejo on lenient terms until the charges against him are heard and decided. He argued that the presumption of innocence applies to his client as per the Nigerian constitution and that the charges do not establish criminal actions by Bodejo.
Raji countered the government’s position by stating that the launch of the group by Bodejo was conducted openly with the presence of police, security personnel, and Nasarawa State officials.
In an affidavit supporting the bail application, Mohammed Musa, Bodejo’s brother, highlighted that Bodejo has been isolated from legal counsel, family, and acquaintances since his arrest on January 23 by DIA agents.
Musa portrayed Bodejo as a law-abiding Nigerian citizen and refuted the allegations of ties to the ethnic militia group.
According to Musa, the vigilante group was established to offer security services to the community, not to engage in terrorism as claimed by the prosecution.
On the government’s side, its counsel, Y.A Imana, argued against Bodejo’s bail, contending that the charges against him pose a threat to national security. Following arguments from both parties, Justice Ekwo has set May 30 for the bail ruling.