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Court permits DIA to detain Bodejo, 6 others for 60 days
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application filed by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to detain Alhaji Bello Bodejo, President, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and six others for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.
Justice Emeka 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 News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DIA, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1875/V/2024 had sued Bodejo, Suleiman Abba, Umar Jibrin, Umar Bello, Muhammed Ayuba, Jibrin Baba and Saidu Wakili as 1st to 7th respondents respectively.
The DIA, in the motion dated and filed on Dec. 16 by Mrs N.F. Bala, sought one prayer.
That is “an order of this honourable court enabling the applicant to detain the respondents for a period of sixty (60) days in the first instance pending the conclusion of investigation.”
In the affidavit deposed to by Bonny Ozegbe, an investigating officer with DIA, he said the respondents were arrested by the Nigerian Armed Forces in Nasarawa State and were brought to DIA on Dec. 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 the alleged offence of banditry and illegal arms possession.
According to him, the preliminary investigation report against the respondents reveals 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.
Ozegbe said 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.
“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.
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 said.
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.
When the matter was called, Odom said he had an ex-parte motion dated Dec. 16.
“What is the nature of this matter?” the judge asked.
Odom said the application sought tye detention of the respondents.
“Why are you detaining them?” the judge asked.
The lawyer said it was on allegations of banditry and illegal possession of fire arms.
The judge asked when were they arrested and Odom said on Dec. 11.
Justice Nwite said Odom had only presented his own side of the story which the respondents may deny.
“Why I am asking this is that you have presented your own side of the story,” he said.
After he was granted the leave to move the motion, the lawyer said the application was filed pursuant to Section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
He said it sought an order detaining the respondents for a 60-day period in the first instance, pending the conclusion of investigation.
Delivering the ruling, the judge said after listening to Odom, he found that the application was meritorious.
“The prayer is hereby granted,” he said.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until March 3, 2025 for mention.
NAN reports that an FCT High Court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Zubairu, had on Monday, ordered Bodejo’s release from the detention of tye Driartmemt if State Service (DSS).
Justice Zubairu, in a ruling, described Bodejo’s detention since Dec. 9 after his arrest and without being charged to court as unlawful.
Justice Zubairu made the order following an application for the order of habeas corpus subjiciendum moved against the respondents by Bodejo’s lawyer, Reuben Atabo, SAN.
The judge held that the application was meritorious having not been challenged by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the DSS DG, who were 1st and 2nd respondents in the fundamental right enforcement suit.(NAN)
A Kano State High Court, on Tuesday, reserved ruling in the case of alleged bribery and misappropriation filed against the former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and seven others.
The Kano State Government instituted an eight-count charge bordering on bribery, misappropriation and diversion of public funds running into billions of Naira against Ganduje and seven others, including his wife, Hafsat Umar.
Others charged with Ganduje are Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited and Lasage General Enterprises Limited.
When the case came up for hearing of all pending applications, counsel to Ganduje and his wife, Offiong Offiong SAN, applied for an extension of time and urged the court to grant the application.
“We also filed our preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court, dated Nov. 18, 2024, along with a 28-paragraph affidavit and a written address in support.
“We also filed a reply on point of law dated April 4, 2025,” he said.
However, counsel to the state, Mr Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, filed a reply to the notice of preliminary objection dated Oct. 22, 2024, addressing all the respondents.
“The application is attached with a seven-paragraph counter affidavit and a written address dated Dec. 13, 2024, attached along with several documents as exhibits,” Adedipe said.
He prayed the court to dismiss the respondents’ applications for lacking merit.
Counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendants, Mr Adekunle Taiye-Falola, filed a motion on notice on a preliminary objection dated Oct. 18, 2024, supported by a 14-paragraph affidavit and a written address.
“In reply to the complainant’s counter affidavit, we filed our further and better affidavit dated Dec. 12, 2024, and a reply on point of law. We urge the court to grant the application as prayed,” Taiye-Falola said.
Counsel to the 5th defendant, Mr Sunusi Musa, SAN, also filed a motion on notice on a preliminary objection dated Oct. 18, 2024, which was supported by an affidavit, an exhibit and a written address.
“We also filed our affidavit and reply on point of law and urged the court to grant the application with substantial costs against the complainant,” he said.
Counsel to the 6th respondent, Mr Ashafa Yusuf , also filed a notice of preliminary objection dated Sept. 9, 2024, supported by a nine-paragraph affidavit and a written address.
“My Lord, we filed a further and better affidavit dated Feb. 17, supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit. We also filed a reply on point of law and urged the court to grant the application,” he said.
Also, Faruk Asekone, counsel to the 8th defendant, filed a notice of preliminary objection dated Oct. 18, 2024, supported by a five-paragraph affidavit and a written address.
“In reply to the complainant’s counter-affidavit, we filed our further and better affidavit and reply on point of law dated Feb. 13, 2025, and urge the court to grant the application,” Asdkome said.
The judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, granted the application for an extension of time.
Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the matter for ruling on the notices of preliminary objection to a date that would be communicated to the parties at a later date. (NAN)
A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has slammed the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, describing it as the most “corrupt and worst” government in Nigerian history.
El-Rufai, who spoke in an interview with some journalists in Katsina Monday night, said Tinubu’s government is also the most intolerant government since the return of democratic rule in 1999.
He claimed that the Federal Government of President Tinubu is the most lying government that depends on false propaganda, especially on security challenges bedevilling the country.
The erstwhile Kaduna governor, who was in Katsina to condole with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda over the demise of his mother, also refuted the claim by the Federal Government that security has improved in the country.
He added that the insecurity in the country is due to the Federal Government’s failure to proffer deeper solutions to address what he termed the prevailing security challenges from their roots.
He stressed that many local government areas in Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States were under the control of bandits, adding that bandits and terrorists’ leaders like Dogo Gide, Mallam Abba and Bello Turji have not been killed.
El-rufia said: “I have said it before, this is the worst Federal Government in Nigerian history and all the indices have shown it. This is the most corrupt and most intolerant government in Nigeria.
“This is the most lying government that depends on false propaganda. They lied that security has improved in Nigeria. They read out numbers of bandits killed except the ones we know are the leading bandits.
“In Kaduna, Dogo Gide is still around, Mallam Abba, the Boko Haram terrorist is still alive. Bello Turji is still around but everyday, they announce names of people that are bandits’ leaders that they have killed and security has improved.
“How many local governments are under the occupation of bandits in Katsina State? How many are occupied by bandits in Zamfara State and some parts of Sokoto State? And because you are in government you think that nothing would happen?”
The former FCT Minister, however, described his new political party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), as a party with a long history and credibility that will wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
A prominent loyalist of former Nigerian Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticised Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammed for comments deemed “reckless” and “disrespectful” towards the elder statesman.
Dr. Aslam Aliyu, known as Gimbiyar Kauran Namoda from Zamfara state and one of the mast respected politicians in Nigeria, issued a statement on Tuesday condemning Governor Muhammed’s remarks, which she described as unbecoming of a party leader.
One of Nigeria’s respected female political voices suggested that Atiku is not a politician to be betrayed.
“Atiku Abubakar is not a politician to be undermined by mere political officeholders whose relevance remains confined to their states,” Aliyu said.
Dr Aliyu highlighting the former vice president’s enduring influence since 1999.
She pointed to his service under President Olusegun Obasanjo, his pivotal role in shaping the PDP, and his consistent presence in Nigeria’s political landscape over two decades.
Aliyu accused Muhammed of exposing his “political inexperience” by attempting to diminish Atiku’s stature within the party.
“For a governor who owes his platform to the PDP’s legacy to belittle one of its founding pillars is not just ungrateful—it is dangerous,” she warned.
She stated that when discussing the leaders of the People’s Democratic Party today, after Atiku Abubakar, the next in line is Senator Aminu Tambuwal.
“He demonstrated a spirit of sportsmanship by stepping down for Atiku in 2023 for the sake of northern development.”
She added that if Kaura wishes to resolve the PDP crisis, where was he when Wike and Fubara were at loggerheads over leadership for more than two years? No action was taken until the Governor was suspended and the state was declared a state of emergency .
“If he wants to end the crisis in the PDP, he should first resolve the one in his own state, Bauchi, and also reinstate the Rivers State Governor, Fubara, who is currently suspended.”
The statement urged Muhammed to exercise humility and cautioned that divisive rhetoric threatens the PDP’s unity.
“The PDP stands today because of the loyalty, sacrifice, and vision of men like Atiku Abubakar,” Aliyu declared, calling for mutual respect to safeguard the party’s future.