FG arraigns Miyetti Allah leader over terrorism

The federal government has arraigned the leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo before a Federal High Court in Abuja on alleged terrorism offences.

In a three-count charge read to him yesterday, the federal government accused Bodejo of unlawfully establishing and supporting an ethnic militia, the Kungiya Zaman Lafiya in Nasarawa State, which breached the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011. Bodejo, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Following his plea of not guilty, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the case to May 27 for further hearing.

The judge further directed the defendant’s detention in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The Miyetti Allah leader had been in detention following the establishment of a 1,144-man outfit on January 17, which he claimed was to tackle all forms of insecurity like banditry and cattle rustling.

Before he was produced for arraignment, Bodejo had earlier filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the court, challenging his continued detention without a formal charge.

This compelled the judge, while renewing his further detention, to direct the Federal Ministry of Justice to file charges against Bodejo within seven days