* As supporters protest continued detention
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned till March 22, to decide whether to release the detained President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Mr Bello Bodejo, on bail.
Justice Ekwo fixed the date shortly after lawyers to parties adopted and argued their briefs for and against the motion for bail.
Meanwhile, supporters of Bodejo have besieged the premises of the Federal High Court demanding his unconditional release.
Justice Ekwo had, on March 5, fixed Wednesday for the hearing of Bodejo’s motion on notice, seeking his unconditional release from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)’s custody.
The judge fixed the date following the Federal Government’s failure to produce Bodejo in court for arraignment after the expiration of the seven-day order directing the Federal Government to file charges against him.
Justice Ekwo had, on February 22, given the Federal Government seven days to file charge against the detained Bodejo.
The judge gave the order after the expiration of the earlier order granted the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to remand Bodejo for 15 days in the custody of DIA pending the conclusion of his investigation.
The Federal Government, in a motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/141/2024, had sought an order to remand Bodejo, the sole respondent, in the DIA custody pending the conclusion of investigation and arraignment in court.
The motion was dated and filed February 5, by M.B. Abubakar, Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation in the office of the AGF and Minister of Justice.
Bodejo was said to have been arrested on January 23 in Malia, Nasarawa State and kept in custody.
His arrest was predicated on the alleged raising up an armed militia to the detriment of the nation’s unity contrary to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the Federal Government, the suspect is being investigated for offences which constitute threat to national security under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022 ).
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the defendant’s lawyer, Mr Mohammed Sheriff, sought the court’s permission to move his client’s application for bail.
Although, the counsel to the prosecution, A. Y. Imana, expressed readiness to proceed with the hearing, the court however, questioned the prosecution on the position of its order on the filing of a charge against the defendant.
Responding, Imana informed the court that “the charge has been filed yesterday my lord and we are waiting for the release of the defendant to us”.
“Where is the evidence to show cause that you have complied with the order of court?” Justice Ekwo asked.
Meanwhile, Bodejo’s lawyer, while moving the motion for bail, denied seeing the charge.
He said the application sought an order admitting Bodejo to bail pending when he would be charged before a competent court.
“We urge your lordship to magnanimously admit him to bail pending when the arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction,” he prayed.
On her part, Imana opposed the granting of the motion on the grounds that the matter bordered on national security.
After taking submissions from all parties, Justice Ekwo announced that ruling in the motion is adjourned till March 22.
Earlier, some members of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore group protested the continued detention of their president by the Federal Government.
The protesters in their large number, which besieged the headquarters of the Federal High Court, Abuja, demanded the unconditional release of their detained president.
The protesters, who carried a big banner with the inscription ‘Free Bello Bodejo’, gathered at the entrance gate of the court to press home their demands.
Other members of the group also carried placards which read: ‘DIA, Free Bodejo Now’, ‘Release Bodejo’.
Comrade Kabir Matazu, who spoke on behalf of the group, said his arrest and detention were unlawful.
According to him, in a democratic society, rule of law is the building block.
“You cannot arbitrarily arrest an individual without proper charge and arraign him in court.
“That is why we have gathered our members across the country to come here to agitate and also make our voice heard.
“We call on the Nigerian security agencies to, without further delay, free and release unconditionally, Bello Bodejo, the president of Miyetti Allah,” he said.
