A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered the release of Bello Bodejo, the president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The court’s decision followed an application for habeas corpus submitted by Bodejo’s counsel, Reuben Atabo, who argued that his client had been unlawfully detained since December 9 without being charged, as previously mandated by the court.
Atabo informed the court that Bodejo was still not charged as of the hearing, despite the judge’s order at the last session. Mohammed Zubairu, the presiding judge, deemed the continued detention of Bodejo unlawful, noting that it violated the court’s previous ruling. Zubairu further emphasized that the application for habeas corpus was valid, as it had not been contested by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) or the Director-General (DG) of the DSS, the first and second respondents in the case.
“The applicant is hereby released from the second respondent’s detention,” Zubairu ruled.
Bodejo’s arrest on December 9 had been reportedly linked to an incident involving herders and a retired army general in the Tudun Wada area of Nasarawa State. His family claimed he was detained by officers of the Nigerian Army’s 117 Battalion in Maliya, Nasarawa. Following his arrest, Bodejo filed a lawsuit against both the AGF and the DG of the DSS, seeking his release or an arraignment in court.
On December 24, Judge Zubairu had ordered that Bodejo either be produced before the court or granted administrative bail, calling his continued detention unconstitutional. The matter was adjourned to December 30 for further hearing.
At Monday’s hearing, DSS operatives brought Bodejo to court, where Atabo moved a motion for his immediate release. Atabo emphasized that no counter-affidavit had been filed by the DSS, urging the court to release Bodejo in the interest of justice. DSS counsel, A.M. Danlami, admitted that no counter affidavit had been filed but requested that Bodejo be produced in court once formal charges are brought against him.
The court’s order for Bodejo’s release marks a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding his arrest and detention.
