FG withdraws charges against Miyetti Allah president
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Federal Government has withdrawn the three-count charge of terrorism filed against president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Kore, Bello Bodejo, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Justice Inyang Ekwo discharged Bodejo on Wednesday following an oral application for withdrawal by a lawyer, Aderonke Imana, representing the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi.
Bodejo’s team of lawyers, including Johnson Usman, but led by Ahmed Raji, did not oppose the application for withdrawal.
The senior lawyer thanked Fagbemi for his “magnanimous gesture.”
“We urge your lordship to discharge the accused person under the sections referred to by the prosecutor,” Raji said.
“The court is hereby moved to consider the application for the discharge of the defendant.
“Consequently, an order is hereby made discharging the defendant. That is the order of this court,” the judge declared.
Bodejo was arrested on the allegation of raising up an armed militia in detriment of the nation’s unity.
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The Miyetti Allah president, who was arrested on January 23 in Malia, Nasarawa State and kept in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), was arraigned on March 22.
He pleaded not guilty, and the court ordered his remand in the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)’s facility pending the hearing and determination of the case.
On April 3, he applied for bail through his lawyer, Raji.
The detained leader of Miyetti Allah told the court that he had no criminal record.
Giving nine grounds why he should be granted bail, Bodejo said the offences with which he was charged were bailable ones.
He said the prosecution, in their response, did not say Bodejo committed act of terrorism, rather, he was said to have formed a group.
He said the name of the group, formed by the defendant, is interpreted in English as “Association for Peaceful Co-existence.”
Raji said the aim of establishing the vigilante company was to render security services to the members of the society and promote peace, not to commit any act of terrorism.