A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to release Bello Bodejo, President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, from their custody.
The court’s decision was made after Bodejo’s lawyer, Reuben Atabo, informed the court that his client had not been charged to court as previously ordered.
Presiding Judge Mohammed Zubairu deemed Bodejo’s detention since December 9 as unlawful, as he had not been charged or arraigned in court.
The judge granted the application for Bodejo’s release, stating, “The applicant is hereby released from the 2nd respondent’s detention.”
Bodejo was arrested on December 9 by officers of the 117 battalion of the Nigerian Army in Maliya, Nasarawa state, over an incident involving herders and a retired army general.
His family claimed he was detained without charge, which prompted him to file a suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the DSS Director-General.
On December 24, Judge Zubairu noted that Bodejo’s continued detention without arraignment was unconstitutional.
He therefore ordered the respondents to produce him in court or grant him administrative bail. During the resumed hearing on Monday, DSS operatives brought Bodejo to court, and his lawyer moved a motion seeking his release.
Atabo urged the court to invoke its judicial power to release Bodejo.
The DSS counsel, A.M. Danlami, requested that the court order Bodejo to be produced when charges are preferred against him.
