The Nigerian government has prosecuted the leader of Miyetti Allah, the Fulani herdsmen group, for terrorism.
The federal government of Nigeria has filed a case against the leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, who is being held as the leader of the terrorist group.
In the indictment for terrorism that was made on March 12, Bodejo was accused of undermining the security of Nigeria by forming a bandit group and supplying weapons without permission.
Part of the indictment added: “You Bello Bodejo, Male, Senior, on or before January 17, 2024, at Lafia, Nasarawa State, under the jurisdiction of this Court Your Excellency, you have committed the following crime: you have established an organization known as Peace Organization without permission, and in this way you have committed something that is against national security and the safety of the community. an offense punishable under section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2022.”
Bodejo was arrested on January 23 at the Miyetti Allah office in Karu local government in Nasarawa state on suspicion of exposing and giving weapons to the vigilante group.
The Attorney General of the Federal Government, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), filed a motion on February 5 seeking the continued detention of Bodejo pending the completion of the investigation by the DIA and his arraignment.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, based on the case filed, ordered that Bodejo be detained for 15 days.
When the 15-day deadline expired on February 22, the judge gave the federal government seven days to file Bodejo's case.
However, at the hearing held on Wednesday, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja refused to present President Miyetti Allah before the Federal High Court to prosecute him.
After the detainee's absence in court, Justice Ekwo asked the federal government lawyer, Y.A. Imana, for not prosecuting Bodejo in court.
The government lawyer explained that the case was filed yesterday, but the judge wondered why the suspect was not brought before him.
At this time, Bodejo's lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, told the court that he had filed a lawsuit seeking his unconditional release from the Security Intelligence Service.
The lawyer asked the court to hear his client's bail application.
He said, "Our bail application date is February 26, 2024, and we are requesting that the applicant be admitted to bail before he is arraigned before the appropriate court."
However, the counsel for the plaintiffs, Y.A Imana, expressed strong opposition to the request for bail of the detainee, because the charges against him are related to undermining the security of the federal government of Nigeria, where he urged the court to reject the request .
Justice Ekwo, after receiving arguments from the lawyers, set the date of March 22 to decide whether to accept the bail application or not.