An Abuja High Court has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to release the detained President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, pending his trial.

Justice Mohammed Zubairu, ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, and Director-General of the DSS, Mr Adeola Ajayi, to immediately admit him to adminstrative bail.

Justice Zubairu, a vacation judge, made the order after an ex-parte motion moved by Bodejo’s counsel, Reuben Atabo, SAN.

Although the motion ex-parte, marked: M/16976/2024, was moved by Atabo on Monday, the certified true copy of the order was made available to newsmen on Tuesday.

Daily Asset earlier reported that Bodejo, in the motion dated and filed on Dec.

19, had prayed the court to order his release from the detention of State Security Service (SSS), also known as DSS, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.

He also sought an order granting him leave to apply for the order of habeas corpus subjiciendum against the respondents.

Habeas corpus subjiciendum is a Latin phrase and a legal term used to describe a writ that is directed to someone who is detaining another person to inquire into the legality of the detention.

The Miyetti Allah president sued the AGF and the DG of SSS as 1st and 2nd respondents.

He sought “an interim order directing the respondents to, forthwith, produce the applicant from detention for him to be released, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application for habeas corpus subjiciendum.”

Delivering the ruling, Justice Zubairu acknowledged the statutory powers of the respondents to prevent crime and criminality which include arrest, detention ond prosecution of offenders.

The judge, however, held that these powers are subject to constitutional limits/restrictions as provided under Section 35 of 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a suspect can only be detained within 24 or 48 hours.

According to him, the 24 or 48 hours is sacrosanct

The judge said: “Courts must be ready and up and doing to ensure’ the constitutional provisions are adhered to and not violated.

“In the case at hand, having gone through the deposition of Hauwa Muhammad Bodejo in the supporting affidavit, I am moved to grant leave to the applicant to apply for an Order of Habeas Carpus.

“Consequently. leave is hereby granted to the applicant to so apply. i so hold.

“I further order the applicant shall file the substantive application within 24 hours from today for the purpose of determining the merit or other wise of the application.

“In a society like ours where we operate constitutional democracy, an individual ought not to be detained beyond the constitutionality guaranteed period without an order of the court.

“From the available facts, the applicant has not been arraigned before any court since 9th of December, 2024.

“On this ground, I order the respondents to produce the applicant before this court pending the hearing and determination of the application for Habeas Corpus or the respondent should grant the applicant an administrative bail.

The judge adjourned the matter until Dec. 30 for hearing. “(NAN)

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the remand of four suspected terrorists linked to notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, in Kuje Correctional Centre.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a short ruling, made the order after the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge bordering on terrorism.

Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until Feb.

10 for trial.

Report says that the four suspects; Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.

k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma, denied their involvement in the offences with which they were charged when the 11 counts were read to them.

Report had earlier said that  though eight defendants were listed on the face of the charge, three of them, including Bello Turji, were at large.

However, shortly after the court registrar called the case, only four defendants were in court.

Justice Nwite then asked about the whereabouts of Bashir Abdullahi, who is the 3rd defendant.

David Kaswe, who appeared for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), told the court that Abdullahi was also at large.

Kaswe, who acknowledged the mistake, apologised to the court.

The lawyer, therefore, sought the leave of the court to enter “at large” for Abdullahi and the judge granted the oral application after it was not opposed by the defence lawyers.

NAN reports that the FG, through the office of the AGF, had filed the 11-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024 against the eight defendants, four of who are at large.

In the charge dated and filed on Dec. 16 by M.B. Abubakar, Director, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma were sued as 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants.

While Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal, who are all at large, are sued as 3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th defendants respectively.

Upon resumed hearing, Kaswe informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment of the defendants and that they were ready to proceed.

He said the defendants had been duly served with the charge.

“We have 11-count charge. May I seek the leave of the court for the charge to be read to the defendants,” he prayed.

But A.M. Lukman, who appeared for the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants (Kamarawa, Hashimu and Chinedu), told the court that a preliminary objection had been filed against the charge.

The lawyer urged the court to hear their objection.

“What is the objection all about?” Justice Nwite asked.

Responding, Lukman said: “It is on the issue of territorial jurisdiction of this honourable court my lord “

“Is that what the law says,” the judge asked.

Kaswe, who represented the AGF, opposed Lukman’s application on the ground that it was not ripe for hearing.

“Counsel has just served me with the application this morning. It is not ripe for hearing my lord,” he argued.

Justice Nwite, who aligned with Kaswe’s submission, directed the charge to be read to the defendants.

Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor, however told the court that he did not understand English Language and the counts were read in English and Hausa to the defendants to take their plea.

After they pleaded not guilty to the counts, A.I. Mohammed, who appeared for the 5th defendant (Chukwuma), sought a short adjournment to enable them file their clients’ bail application.

But the judge assured them that the aplkication would be heard as soon as they were ready.

In count one, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, aka Doctor; Bashir Abdullahi; Samuel Chinedu; Lucky Chukwuma; Bello Turji (at large); Aminu Muhammad (at large) and Sani Lawal (at large), sometime between 2018 and 2022 in Sokoto State, were alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit the terror act.

They were alleged to have provided material services to terrorists groups led by  Turji, Kachalla Halilu, Danbokolo, Lawali, Atarwatse, Buderi and others, by procuring and supplying illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis plants (aka indian hemp); food items; military and police uniforms, camouflage.

They were also alleged to have supplied , boots, caps and building materials, including bags of cement, cover zinc, bags of nails, M.M. iron rod, etc., to terrorist camps in the forests located in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna States.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

In count four, Kamarawa, Muhammad (at large) and Lawal (at large), sometime in 2021 in Sokoto State, allegedly aided and abetted the commission of acts of terrorism by acquiring a military gun truck from Libya and supplying same to a terrorist, Kachalla Halilu, at a cost of approximately N28.5 million (28,500,000).

They were alleged to have paid for the gun truck partly in cash and partly via electronic transfer.

“And which you knew or had reason to believe that this vehicle would be used by Kachalla Halilu, a known terrorist, to commit acts of terrorism.

“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act,” the count read in part.

The offence is contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.(NAN)

 A man who drove a car into a crowd in Changde City, central China’s Hunan Province, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Monday for endangering public safety by dangerous means.

On Nov. 19, Huang Wen crashed a car into a crowd in Dingcheng District of Changde after the vehicle stopped, he exited the car and continued attacking people, leaving 30 injured, including 18 students.

Changde Intermediate People’s Court found that Huang committed the crime as a result of investment losses and family conflicts, acting out in an attempt to vent his frustrations.

(www.nannews.ng) (Xinhua/NAN)