Court Grants 60-Day Detention Of Miyetti Allah President Bodejo, Six Others

Abuja, Nigeria– The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) permission to detain Alhaji Bello Bodejo, President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, along with six others, for 60 days as investigations into allegations of banditry and illegal arms possession continue.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling after DIA counsel, I.O. Odom, presented an ex-parte motion requesting the detention period.

The motion, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1875/V/2024, named Bodejo, Suleiman Abba, Umar Jibrin, Umar Bello, Muhammed Ayuba, Jibrin Baba, and Saidu Wakili as respondents.

According to court filings submitted by Mrs. N.F. Bala on behalf of the DIA, the agency sought an initial 60-day detention order to conclude investigations.

The request was supported by an affidavit from Bonny Ozegbe, a DIA investigative officer, who disclosed that the suspects were apprehended by the Nigerian Armed Forces in Nasarawa State on December 11.

They were subsequently transferred to DIA custody for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Justice Nwite granted the request, enabling DIA to detain the respondents for the stipulated period.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ozegbe has accused all the defendants of being arrested for the alleged crimes of banditry and illegal arms possession.

He stated that the preliminary investigation against the defendants shows they were involved in an attack on a military base in Nasarawa State, which occurred during an assault on local farmers and their farmlands.

The attack resulted in serious injuries to Nigerian Armed Forces personnel and civilians, as well as the theft of military arms and ammunition.

“During the operation that led to their arrest, several weapons, including AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and other dangerous weapons, were recovered,” Ozegbe said.

The investigation also revealed that the second to seventh defendants carried out the attacks on the orders of the first defendant (Bodejo), their leader.

Ozegbe added that this was not the first time Bodejo had been arrested in connection with insecurity in North Central Nigeria.

He emphasized that the investigation into the defendants’ alleged crimes is ongoing, including efforts to track down fleeing accomplices.

He argued that releasing the defendants could allow them to commit similar or more serious crimes, evade trial, or interfere with the ongoing investigation.

“I firmly believe that the defendants pose a significant threat to national security and the safety of all Nigerians,” Ozegbe concluded.

He called for a court order to remand them in the Defence Intelligence Agency’s custody until their investigation is completed and they are arraigned.

Odom, the lawyer representing the application, presented an ex-parte motion dated December 16.

When the judge asked about the nature of the case, Odom explained that the motion sought to detain the respondents due to allegations of banditry and illegal arms possession. He also confirmed their arrest on December 11.

Justice Nwite noted that Odom had presented only one side of the case, which the defendants may deny.

Meanwhile, after granting leave for Odom to proceed, the lawyer cited Section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, requesting an order to detain the respondents for 60 days while the investigation continues.

After considering the application, Justice Nwite ruled in favor of granting the detention request, and the matter was adjourned until March 3, 2025, for mention.

In a separate ruling earlier in the week, Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court ordered the release of Bodejo from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Zubairu described Bodejo’s detention, which began on December 9 without charge, as unlawful.

The ruling followed a habeas corpus application filed by Bodejo’s lawyer, Reuben Atabo, SAN, and was granted due to the failure of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and DSS Director-General to challenge the application.