Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled May 29 for the trial of Bello Bodejo, the detained leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, after dismissing his bail application.
Bodejo is accused of unlawfully establishing an ethnic militia group, Kungiya Zaman Lafiya, to promote terrorism, and has been in custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja.
During the last adjourned date, the court had planned to rule and commence Bodejo’s trial, but his absence hindered the proceedings. Following the dismissal of his bail application, Bodejo’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, expressed readiness for trial, indicating that there would be no immediate appeal against the ruling.
Bodejo was arraigned in March on three counts filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, accusing him of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Despite denying all charges, his lawyer had pleaded for bail on grounds of ill health and fundamental rights. However, Justice Ekwo rejected the bail application.