The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled the trial of Bello Bodejo, the detained leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, to begin on May 29.
The trial date was set by Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo after he dismissed Bodejo’s application for bail.
Previously, the court had set the bail application for a ruling and the commencement of Bodejo’s trial, but the Miyetti Allah leader was absent during that session.
Following the new trial date announcement, Bodejo’s counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), affirmed his client’s readiness to stand trial.
Raji stated that, given the court’s order for an expedited hearing, there was no immediate need to appeal the bail ruling.
Bodejo was arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for allegedly establishing an ethnic militia group in Nasarawa, known as Kungiya Zaman Lafiya, which the DIA claims was created to promote terrorism.
Bodejo has been in DIA custody in Abuja since his arrest and was arraigned in March on a three-count charge filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), accusing him of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Bodejo has denied all charges.
Raji had requested bail for his client on various grounds, including ill-health and the enforcement of his fundamental rights. However, the court has yet to rule in his favor.
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The counsel also 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.”
Raji 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.
Raji informed the court that launching of the group by his client was done in a public place with Police Commissioner and personnel of other security agencies as well as Nasarawa State government officials in attendance.
He 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 added that “Bodejo neither established nor has any involvement with the ethnic militia group as alleged in the charge against him.”
He explained further 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.
However, the federal government, through its lawyer, Y.A Imana urged the court to reject Bodejo’s bail application on the ground that charges against the defendant borders on threat to national security.
