Ruling in a bail application filed on behalf of the detained leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, has been fixed for May 30 by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Bodejo, who was accused of unlawfully establishing an ethnic militia group,
Kungiya Zaman Lafiya to allegedly promote terrorism has been in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja.
His arraignment on a three-count charge first took place in March.
It was filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF), in which he was accused of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He has since denied the charges.
While moving application for his bail on Tuesday, Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, pleaded with Justice Ekwo to admit his client to bail on various grounds ranging from ill health to fundamental rights.
He 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.”
The senior lawyer 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.
Contrary to government assertions, 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.
In an affidavit deposed to by Mohammed Musa, a brother to Mr Bodejo, in support of the bail bid, he said the Miyetti Allah leader who was arrested by 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.”
However, the federal government, through its lawyer, Y. A. Imana, urged the court to reject Bodejo’s bail application on the ground that the charges against the defendant border on threat to national security.
After hearing out parties in the suit, Justice Ekwo fixed 30th May for ruling in the bail application.
