The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, turned down the bail application filed by the detained President of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo.
The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore leader who was arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for unlawfully establishing an ethnic militia group, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya, allegedly to promote terrorism, has been in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja.
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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.
Bodejo had, through his counsel, Dr Ahmed Raji (SAN), pleaded with Justice Inyang 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 the launching of the group by his client was done in a public place with the Police Commissioner and personnel of other security agencies as well as Nasarawa State government officials in attendance.
Ruling on the bail application brought before the court by the Miyetti Allah’s leader, Justice Ekwo agreed with the submissions of counsel to the Federal Government, Y.A Imana that, the charges against the defendant border on threat to national security.
Imana had, while objecting to the bail application for the detained Miyetti Allah, urged the court to refuse him bail on the ground that the charges preferred against the defendant borders on threat to national security.
Meanwhile, the court, after ruling on the bail application of the Defendant, fixed May 29 for his trial.
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.