TheCable

The federal government has filed a criminal charge against Bello Bodejo, leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore group, over an alleged unlawful establishment of an ethnic militia group.

The charge was filed before the federal high court in Abuja on March 12. 

Bodejo was arrested on January 23 at the Miyetti Allah 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 crime in the north-central state.

The federal government had secured an order to remand Bodejo for 15 days in the custody of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

After the expiration of the order, Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, extended the detention period by another seven days. 

The judge also ordered the federal government to ensure that it filed a charge against the accused, and directed that the detainee be brought to court on the next adjourned date.

On Wednesday, the state failed to produce Bodejo in court.

However, Yetunde Imana, lawyer from the office of the attorney general of the federation (AGF), told the court that a charge has been filed against Bodejo.

But Ekwo noted that he was yet to receive the case file.

Mohammed Sheriff, Bodejo’s lawyer, informed the court of a pending bail application he filed for his client.

Sheriff proceeded to move the application and prayed the court to grant bail to his client.

Responding, Imana prayed the court to dismiss the bail application on the grounds that “it is a matter that touches on national security”.

Ekwo adjourned ruling on the application to March 22. 

On Wednesday, members of the Miyetti Allah staged a protest outside the federal high court in Abuja, while demanding Bodejo’s release.