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- AGF withdraws charge
From Godwin Tsa Abuja
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday discharged the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Kore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, of an alleged terrorism charge filed against him by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling, discharged Bodejo after counsel for the AGF, Aderonke Imana, moved an oral application for the withdrawal of the three-count charge.
Upon resumed hearing, Imana informed the court that she had an oral application.
The lawyer said the application was pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
She said the request was further predicated on the power of the AGF under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Consequently, the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation has instructed me to withdraw this charge against the defendant in the interest of justice.
“That is our humble application my lord,” she said.
Bodejo’s team of lawyers, including Johnson Usman, SAN, but led by Ahmed Raji, SAN, did not oppose the application.
The senior lawyer thanked the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for his “magnanimous gesture.”
“We urge your lordship to discharge the accused person under the sections referred to by the prosecutor,” Raji said.
The federal government alleged that he established an ethnic militia in Nasarawa State, adding that the defendant was involved in the management of activities connected with acts that were prejudicial to national security and public safety.
It told the court that Bodejo provided material support, assistance, and transportation for activities connected with acts of terrorism, contrary to Sections 29, 2(3)(g)(xii) and 12(a) and Section 2(3)(g)(xii), and 13(2)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendant has been in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, since 23 January, even though the trial court on 22 March okayed his detention.
Based on the strength of an affidavit that was filed by the FG, the court, on 27 May, refused to release the defendant on bail, though it ordered an accelerated hearing of the charge against him.
However, when the case was called up on Wednesday for the commencement of the hearing, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, applied to withdraw the charge.
Bodejo’s team of lawyers led by Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, said they were not opposed to FG’s decision to terminate further proceedings in the matter, even as they thanked the AGF
In a brief ruling, trial Justice Inyang Ekwo discharged the defendant of the allegations against him.
A count in the charge against the defendant, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/141/2024, which the court struck out on Wednesday, read: “That you, Bello Bodejo, Male, Adult, on or before the 17th day of January. 2024, at Lafia, Nassarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence to wit: you established an ethnic militia known as Kungiya Zaman Lafiya, without authorization, and thereby committed an act prejudicial to national security and public safety, and an offence punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
