CHIGOZIE AMADI
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court,Abuja, has scheduled May 30, to decide whether he should admit to bail, the detained leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo.
The federal government had arraigned Bodejo in March on a three-count charge bordering on alleged violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Specifically, the federal government has accused him of unlawfully establishing an ethnic militia group, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya, to promote terrorism.
Although he pleaded not guilty to the charge, the court ordered his remand in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja, pending the determination of his bail application.
Arguing the bail application yesterday, Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN, pleaded with Justice Ekwo to admit his client to bail on various grounds ranging from ill health to fundamental rights.
Raji also prayed the court for “an order admitting the defendant to bail on liberal terms pending the hearing and determination of the charges preferred against him.”
According to the senior lawyer, Bodejo “suffers from grave ill-health” and that the offences were bailable.
Citing Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, Raji said his client was presumed innocent until proven guilty, adding that the charge against him did not disclose any crime against him.
Contrary to government assertions, Raji informed the court that the launch of the group was done in the full glare of the public and with security agencies as well as the Nasarawa State government officials in attendance.
In an affidavit deposed to by Mohammed Musa, a brother to Bodejo, in support of the bail, the deponent said the Miyetti Allah leader who was arrested by the DIA personnel on 23 January, has “been denied access to his lawyers, family members, friends and well wishers.”
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.”
The deponent further said Bodejo “neither established nor has any involvement with the ethnic militia group as alleged in the charge against him.”
He explained that the essence of establishing the vigilante company was to provide security services to the members of the society and not to commit any act of terrorism as alleged by giving.
However ,the federal government, through it’s lawyer, Y.A Imana, urged the court to reject Bodejo’s bail application on the ground that charges against the defendant bordered on threat to national security.
After taking arguments from the two parties, Justice Ekwo fixed May 30, for ruling in the bail application.
