FG sues Bodejo for setup, arming ethnic militia group in Nigeria
By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu
The Federal Government has sued the President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nigeria (MACBAN), Bello Bodejo for alleged set up and arming of an ethnic militia group in the country.
According to the terrorism charges of March 12, 2024, Bodejo was accused of undermining the national security of Nigeria by establishing and arming an ethnic militia group without authorization.
The charges against reads in part: “That you, Bello Bodejo, Male, Adult, on or before January 17, 2024, at Lafia, Nasarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offense to which you established an ethnic militia known as Kungiya Zaman Lafiya without authorization.
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“You’re thereby committed an act prejudicial to national security and public safety,” stating that it is an offense punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The MACBAN boss was arrested on January 23 at Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State over the alleged unveiling and arming of a vigilante group.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, filed a motion ex parte on February 5 seeking to remand Bodejo pending the conclusion of the investigation by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and his arraignment in court.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Abuja Federal High Court had, upon the ex parte application, ordered that Bodejo be remanded for 15 days.
At the expiration of the 15 days on February 22, the judge gave the Federal Government seven days to file a charge against Bodejo.
However, at Wednesday’s proceedings, the DIA in Abuja declined to produce the detained President of MACBAN before the Federal High Court for arraignment.
Following the absence of the detainee in court, Justice Ekwo asked the counsel to the federal government, Y.A. Imana, if charges had been filed against Bodejo.
The judge said, “This court made an order that you should charge the detainee before a court of competent jurisdiction. Where is the evidence that you filed the charges before this court?”
The government lawyer, however, explained that the charge was filed yesterday, but the judge wondered why the charge was not before him.
At this point, Bodejo’s counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, informed the Court that he had filed an application seeking his client’s unconditional release from the Defense Intelligence Agency’s custody.
The counsel pleaded with the court to hear the bail application of his client.
“Our bail application is dated February 26, 2024, and is seeking to admit the applicant to bail pending arraignment before a competent court,” he said.
The prosecution counsel, Y.A. Imana, however, vehemently objected to the request for bail of the detainee on the ground that charges against him have to do with undermining the national security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and urged the court to dismiss the application.
“We pray to this court to dismiss the bail application of the detainee because it is a matter that touches on national security,” she warned.
Justice Ekwo, after taking arguments from lawyers, fixed March 22 for a ruling on whether to grant the bail request or not.
