Court To Commence Trial Of Miyetti Allah Leader May 29

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 29 for the trial of the detained leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo,

The court fixed the date after dismissing the application for bail of the accused person.

At the last adjourned date, the case was fixed for ruling and commencement of trial of Bodejo, but his absence in court stalled the trial from going ahead.

Shortly after the court fixed the date for trial, his counsel, Dr Ahmed Raji, said his client is ready for trial.

According to him, since the court has ordered expeditious hearing in the matter, there would be no need to appeal the ruling on his bail for now.

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore leader was arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, for unlawfully establishing an ethnic militia group,
Kungiya Zaman Lafiya to promote terrorism has been in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja.

He was arraigned in March on a three-count charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in which he was accused of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

He has however denied all the charges.

Before the court ruled on his bail application, Dr Raji, had, pleaded with Justice Ekwo to admit his client to bail on various grounds ranging from ill health to fundamental rights.

He asked the court for “an order admitting the defendant to bail on liberal terms pending the hearing and determination of the charges preferred against him.”

The senior lawyer predicated the bail request on the ground that Bodejo “suffers from grave ill-health and that the offences are bailable.

Citing Section 36 of the Nigerian constitution, Raji said his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty adding that the charge against Bodejo did not disclose any crime against him.

Contrary to government assertions, Raji informed the court that launching of the group by his client was done in a public place with a Police Commissioner and personnel of other security agencies as well as the Nasarawa State government officials in attendance.

Musa described Bodejo as a “patriotic Nigerian citizen who goes about his business within the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He explained that the essence of establishing the vigilante company was to provide security services to members of the society and not to commit any act of terrorism as alleged.

However, the federal government, through its lawyer, Y.A Imana, urged the court to reject Bodejo’s bail application on the ground that the charges against the defendant borders on threat to national security.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji