Illegal vigilante: Court orders FG to try Miyetti Allah leader

AFederal High Court in Abuja has directed the federal government to file charges against the leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo within seven days.

Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday gave the order after the end of a previous order granting the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) permission to remand Bodejo for 15 days in the custody of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

The AGF had sought the remand order in a motion ex-parte marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/141/2024, filed on February 5 by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar.

The motion requested Bodejo’s remand pending the conclusion of the investigation and his arraignment in court.

According to the Daily Post, Bodejo was arrested on January 23 at Miyetti Allah’s office in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State following the unveiling of a vigilante group by the Fulani socio-cultural organisation.

In an affidavit attached to the motion, Noma Wando, a litigation officer at the Ministry of Justice, stated that Bodejo was allegedly raising an armed militia in violation of the nation’s unity, contrary to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The respondent is being investigated for offences under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

During the court session on Thursday, F.N. Umoh, counsel for the AGF, informed the court that the NIA had forwarded Bodejo’s statement to the minister’s office on Wednesday. The ministry could not file the charges as directed by the court and requested a new date to do so.