The Federal Government has charged a leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore group, Bello Bodejo, with illegally raising an armed ethnic militia group.

In a charge filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 12, the Federal Government accused Bodejo of establishing the ethnic militia group without authorisation.

Security operatives arrested Bodejo on January 23 at Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State after he inaugurated a vigilance group.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF) subsequently obtained an order from the Federal High Court to remand Bodejo, pending the conclusion of investigation and his arraignment in court.

Upon an ex parte motion filed by the OAGF, Justice Inyang Ekwo, on February 5, issued an order permitting the detention of Bodejo for 15 days.

On February 22, after the expiration of the 15 days, Justice Ekwo extended the detention period for another seven days.

At the expiration of the seven days, and on realising that the OAGF was yet to charge the detainee to court, the judge ordered that Bodejo be produced in court.

At the mention of the case yesterday, the state failed to produce Bodejo in court, and Justice Ekwo asked a lawyer from the Office of the AGF, Mrs. Yetunde Imana, if a charge had been filed against the detainee.

Mrs. Imana said a charge was filed against Bodejo the previous day.

The judge said the charge was not in the court’s file.

At that point, Bodejo’s lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, informed the court about a pending bail application he filed on behalf of his client.

Sheriff moved the application and prayed the court to grant his client a bail.

Responding, Mrs. Imana said: “We pray this court to dismiss the application of the defendant because it is a matter that touches on national security.”

Justice Ekwo has adjourned till March 22 for ruling.

Bur while proceedings were ongoing in the courtroom, some supporters of the detainee protested at the entrance of the court building, displaying a huge banner in which they called for his release. (Text, excluding headline: The Nation)

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