In compliance with the Federal High Court order, the Federal Government of Nigeria has filed terrorism charges against the detained President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo.

In the terrorism charges dated March 12, Bodejo was accused of undermining the national security of Nigeria by establishing and arming an ethnic militia group without authorization.

Part of the charges read: “That you, Bello Bodejo, Male, Adult, on or before the 17th Day of January, 2024, at Lafia, Nasarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed to commit an offence to wit: you established an ethnic militia known as Kungiya Zaman Lafiya without authorization and thereby committed an act prejudicial to national security and public safety, an offence punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Bodejo was arrested on January 23 at the Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State over the alleged unveiling and arming of a vigilante group.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), filed a motion ex parte on February 5 seeking to remand Bodejo pending the conclusion of the investigation by DIA and his arraignment in court.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, upon the ex parte application, ordered that Bodejo be remanded for 15 days.

At the expiration of the 15 days on February 22, the judge gave the Federal Government seven days to file a charge against Bodejo.

However, at Wednesday’s proceedings, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja declined to produce the detained President of Miyetti Allah before the Federal High Court for arraignment.

Following the absence of the detainee in court, Justice Ekwo asked the counsel to the federal government, Y.A. Imana, if charges had been filed against Bodejo.

The judge said, “This court made an order that you should charge the detainee before a court of competent jurisdiction. Where is the evidence that you filed the charges before this court?”

The government lawyer, however, explained that the charge was filed yesterday, but the judge wondered why the charge was not before him.

At this point, Bodejo’s counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, informed the Court that he had filed an application seeking his client’s unconditional release from the Defence Intelligence Agency’s custody.

The counsel pleaded with the court to hear the bail application of his client.

He said, “Our bail application is dated February 26, 2024, and is seeking to admit the applicant to bail pending arraignment before a competent court.”

The prosecution counsel, Y.A Imana, however, vehemently objected to the request for bail of the detainee on the ground that charges against him have to do with undermining the national security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and urged the court to dismiss the application.

She said, “We pray this court to dismiss the bail application of the detainee because it is a matter that touches on national security.”

Justice Ekwo, after taking arguments from lawyers, fixed March 22 for ruling on whether to grant the bail request or not.

Also, some members of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore on Wednesday in their numbers stormed the Federal High Court in Abuja to demand the unconditional release of their president, Bello Bodejo.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Kabir Matazu, decried the DIA’s disobedience to a court order directing that Bodejo be tried or released.

You can’t arbitrarily hold on to Bodejo without trying him. We are here to demand his release or trial, Matazu said.

He said, “We are in a democratic society. And in a democratic society, respect for the rule of law is the building block for democracy to thrive. You cannot arbitrarily arrest and detain an individual without a charge against him.

“That’s why we have gathered our members from across the country to come here to agitate and also make our voice heard and known that the Nigerian security agencies should, without further delay, free and release him unconditionally.

He lamented that Bodejo’s family and friends have yet to see him since he was arrested.

Matazu said, “It is sad that up till now, his family members were not granted access to see him.

“He is not a criminal. He has no criminal record. He will not run away and leave this country. So if not because of the failure of our security agencies, there are bandits in the forest who they should have gone after,” Matazu said.