Trial Of Miyetti Allah Leader Begins Tomorrow

A Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo has fixed May 29, for the trial of the detained leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo.

Justice Ekwo slated the date after dismissing the defendant’s application for bail.

After the court had fixed the date for beginning of trial, Bodejo’s counsel, Dr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), said his client is ready for trial, stressing that since the court has ordered accelerated hearing of the matter, there would be no need to appeal the ruling on his bail for now.

Recall that the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore leader was arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over an allegation that he unlawfully established an ethnic militia group, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya, to promote terrorism.

He has been in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency in Abuja.

He was arraigned in March 2024, on a three-count charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, wherein he was accused of breaching the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

READ ALSO: Miyetti Allah’s president not in our custody – DSS breaks silence

Before the court ruled on the bail application, Dr. Raji had pleaded with the court to admit Bodejo 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.”

Raji had based his application for bail on the ground that Bodejo “suffers from grave ill-health and that the offences are available.

Contrary to the claims of the Federal Government, Raji told 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 present.

He cited Section 36 of the Nigerian constitution, saying his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Raji had posited that the charge against Bodejo did not disclose any crime against him.