Court gives FG seven days to file charge against Miyetti Allah’s president

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the federal government to file a charge against Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, within seven days.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, gave the order on Thursday.

The order followed the expiration of an earlier one granting permission to the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) to remand Bodejo for 15 days in the custody of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

In a motion ex-parte marked  “FHC/ABJ/CS/141/2024”, the AGF sought an order to remand Bodejo pending the conclusion of investigation and arraignment in court.

The motion was dated and filed on February 5 by M.B. Abubakar, director, public prosecution in the office of the AGF.

Bodejo was arrested on January 23 at the Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu LGA of Nasarawa state, over the unveiling of a vigilante group.

The Fulani socio-cultural organisation had recently unveiled a vigilante group in Nasarawa.

Bodejo said the “nomad vigilante group” would assist security agencies in combatting criminal activities in the north-central state.

In the affidavit attached to the motion, Noma Wando, a litigation officer at the ministry of justice, said Bodejo is raising an armed militia to the detriment of the nation’s unity contrary to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Wando said the respondent is being investigated for offences, which constitute a threat to national security under the terrorism prevention and prohibition act, 2022.

“That if the suspect/respondent is released into the society, there is a likelihood that he will continue to commit similar or more serious offences,” the litigation officer said.

Wando added that there is a likelihood that the respondent will jump administrative bail if granted.

At the resumed court session on Thursday, F.N. Umoh, AGF counsel, said the NIA forwarded Bodejo’s statement to the minister’s office on Wednesday.

He said because of the bureaucratic process, they could not file a charge as directed by the court.

Therefore, he prayed the court for a date to enable them to file a charge against the accused.

When the judge asked him how long it would take him to file the charge, the lawyer said seven days.

But Abdulkarim Maude, who appeared for Bodejo, informed the court that they had filed an application for enforcement of his fundamental rights on February 7 and served the same on the prosecution team.

Ekwo said to simplify the matter, the prosecution should be given seven days to file a charge so that Maude could respond appropriately.

The judge then adjourned the case until March 1 for Bodejo’s arraignment.