The leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore group, Bello Bodejo, has been charged by the Federal Government with terrorism-related offenses. He was presented before a Federal High Court in Abuja for unlawfully establishing and supporting an ethnic militia group known as Kungiya Zaman Lafiya.
Bodejo was arraigned on Friday on a three-count charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in which he was accused of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bodejo 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).
Justice Ekwo adjourned till May 27 for the commencement of trial.
It would be recalled that the Miyetti Allah leader 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 January 17, 2024, Bodejo said the move was to tackle banditry, cattle rustling and all forms of insecurity in Nasarawa State.
Following his arrest, the Miyetti Allah leader 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 February 5 filed a motion ex parte, seeking to remand Bodejo pending the conclusion of the investigation and arraignment in court.
Justice Inyang 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.
