Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application filed by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to detain the President of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, and six others for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.
Justice Nwite gave the order following an ex-parte motion moved by counsel to the DIA, I.O. Odom, seeking the order to detain the seven respondents for the period in the first instance.
The DIA, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1875/V/2024 and filed December 16 by Mrs N.F. Bala,
charged Bodejo, Suleiman Abba, Umar Jibrin, Umar Bello, Muhammed Ayuba, Jibrin Baba and Saidu Wakili as 1st to 7th respondents respectively.
The DIA is praying for an order of the court enabling the Agency to detain the respondents for a period of 60 days in the first instance pending the conclusion of investigation.
An affidavit deposed to by Bonny Ozegbe, an investigating officer with DIA assigned to the matter, said the respondents were arrested by the Nigerian Armed Forces in Nasarawa State and were brought to DIA on December 11 for further investigation regarding the suspected crimes against them and their possible prosecution by the appropriate agency.
Ozegbe alleged that all the respondents were arrested for alleged banditry and illegal possession of arms.
According to him, the preliminary investigation report against the respondents revealed that they were involved in an attack against a military formation deployed to Nasarawa State during an attack on farmers and farmlands within the area.
He said the attack resulted in grievous injuries against personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other civilians as well as carting of arms and ammunition belonging to the military personnel.
“During the operation that led to the arrest of the respondents, several weapons were recovered from the respondents including Ak47 rifles and ammunitions as well as other dangerous weapons.
“The preliminary investigation report also revealed that the 2nd to 7th respondents who were involved in the incident carried out the attacks in Nasarawa State on the instructions of the 1st respondent (Bodejo) who is their leader,” he alleged and added that, this was not the first time the Bodejo was being arrested for issues relating to insecurity in the North Central Nigeria.
He said investigation of the alleged crimes against the respondents is still ongoing, including trailing for the arrest of the fleeing accomplices and accessories, hence their safe keeping.
According to the deponent, If the respondents are released into society, there is a likelihood that they will continue to commit same, similar or more serious offences.
He said if they are released into society, there is a likelihood that they will jump bail and evade trial and that they may also tamper with the ongoing investigation.
“| strongly believe that the respondents pose a grave threat to national security and the entire Nigerian citizenry at large. A court order is necessary to remand them in Defence Intelligence Agency’s custody pending the conclusion of their investigation and arraignment in court,” he added.
The official said it would be in the interest of justice to grant a remand order of 60 days in the DIA custody pending the conclusion of their investigation and arraignment in court.
In his ruling, the judge said after listening to Odom, he found that the application was meritorious and granted the prayers and thereafter, adjourned the matter till March 3, 2025 for mention.
