Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, has scheduled May 29 for the trial of Bello Bodejo, the detained leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore. The date was set after the court dismissed Bodejo’s application for bail.
During the last adjourned hearing, the case was supposed to proceed with the ruling and the trial, but Bodejo’s absence stalled the proceedings. Following the court’s decision, Bodejo’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, stated that his client is ready for trial.
“Since the court has ordered an expeditious hearing in the matter, there would be no need to appeal the ruling on his bail for now,” Raji said.
Bodejo was arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for allegedly establishing an ethnic militia group, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya, to promote terrorism. He has been in DIA custody in Abuja since his arrest.
He was arraigned in March on three counts filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), accused of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Bodejo has denied all the charges.
Before the court’s ruling on his bail application, Raji pleaded with Justice Ekwo to grant bail on various grounds, including ill health and fundamental rights. However, the judge dismissed the bail application, paving the way for the trial to commence on the scheduled date.
