A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday discharged Alhaji Bello Bodejo, President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, from terrorism charges brought against him by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a brief ruling, discharged Bodejo following an oral application for withdrawal of the three-count charge by Aderonke Imana, counsel for the AGF.
Imana informed the court that the application was made under Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and based on the AGF’s powers under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Consequently, the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation has instructed me to withdraw this charge against the defendant in the interest of justice. That is our humble application, my lord,” Imana stated.
Bodejo’s defence team, led by Ahmed Raji (SAN), did not oppose the application and expressed gratitude to AGF Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for his “magnanimous gesture.”
“We urge your Lordship to discharge the accused person under the sections referred to by the prosecutor,” Raji said.
News About Nigeria reported that Bodejo was arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) on charges of unlawfully establishing an ethnic militia group, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya, purportedly to promote terrorism.
According to a DSS source, the arrest was prompted by concerns that the establishment of the group could potentially incite violence nationwide.
The source disclosed that the vigilante group, led by Bodejo, had not undergone registration with the DSS, the police, or any other security agency, rendering it unrecognised by the Federal Government.
The absence of formal recognition raised security apprehensions, leading to the arrest of Miyetti Allah’s president.
