Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 29, 2024, for the trial of the detained leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo.
The court fixed the date after dismissing the application for bail of the accused person.
At the last adjourned date, the case was fixed for ruling and commencement of trial of Bodejo but his absence in court stalled the trial from going ahead.
Shortly after the court fixed the date for trial, his counsel, Dr Ahmed Raji (SAN) said his client was ready for trial.
He said since the court had ordered an expeditious hearing in the matter, there would be no need to appeal the ruling on his bail for now.
Bodejo was arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for unlawfully establishing an ethnic militia group, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya, to promote terrorism.
Since then, he has been in the custody of the DIA in Abuja.
Bodejo was arraigned in March on a three-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), where he was accused of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He denied all the charges.
Before the court ruled on his bail application, Raji had pleaded with Justice Ekwo to admit his client to bail on various grounds ranging from ill health to fundamental rights.
He asked the court for “an order admitting the defendant to bail on liberal terms pending the hearing and determination of the charges preferred against him.”
The senior lawyer predicated the bail request on the ground that Bodejo “suffers from grave ill-health and that the offences are bailable.”
Citing Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, Raji said his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty adding that the charge against Bodejo did not disclose any crime against him.
Contrary to government assertions, Raji informed the court that the launching of the group by his client was done in a public place with the Police Commissioner and personnel of other security agencies as well as Nasarawa State government officials in attendance.
