By Kamsi Anayo
The leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore group, Bello Bodejo, was on Friday arraignqqed in a Federal High Court, Abuja for terrorism-related offence.
Bodejo was in Court for allegedly establishing and supporting unlawfully an ethnic militia group – Kungiya Zaman Lafiya.
He was arraigned in court by the Federal Government on a three-count charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and was accused of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bodejo, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, following which Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that he be further detained in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Ekwo adjourned till May 27 for the commencement of trial.
Recall that Bodejo was arrested in Nasarawa state days after the organisation launched a vigilante group named, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya.
At the inauguration of the 1,144-man Fulani outfit on Jan. 17, 2024, Bodejo said the move was to tackle banditry, cattle rustling and all forms of insecurity in Nasarawa State.
Following his arrest, he filed a fundamental rights suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge his prolonged detention.
In response, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Feb. 5 filed a motion ex parte, seeking to remand Bodejo pending the conclusion of the investigation and arraignment in court.
Ekwo, who is hearing Bodejo’s suit, granted the Federal Government permission to detain him for 15 days in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency.
Subsequently, the judge ordered the Federal Government to either file charges against the Miyetti Allah leader or release him.
