These are not the best of times for persons arrested for terrorism-related offences as the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is rushing them to courts to face justice.

On Friday, the Federal Government arraigned the leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore group, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, for terrorism-related offences.

Also on Friday, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) took over the prosecution of four suspected terrorists who allegedly kidnapped and killed the traditional ruler of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community in Imo State, Eze Basil Njoku.

Prince Fagbemi took over the trial of the suspects at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Alhaji Bodejo was also brought before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for allegedly establishing and supporting unlawfully an ethnic militia group – Kungiya Zaman Lafiya.

The Miyetti Allah leader was arrested in Nasarawa State days after the organisation launched the vigilante group .

At the inauguration of the 1,144-man Fulani outfit on January 17, 2024, Alhaji Bodejo said the move was to tackle banditry, cattle rustling and all forms of insecurity in Nasarawa State.

Following his arrest, the Miyetti Allah leader filed a fundamental rights suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge his prolonged detention.

In response, the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Fagbemi on February 5 filed a motion ex parte, seeking to remand Alhaji Bodejo pending the conclusion of the investigation and arraignment in court.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who is hearing Bodejo’s fundermentals rights suit, granted the Federal Government permission to detain him for 15 days in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency.

The judge ordered the Federal Government to either file charges against the Miyetti Allah leader or release him.

He was , however, arraigned on Friday before Justice Inyang Ekwo on a three-count charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in which he was accused of violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Alhaji Bodejo pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, following which Justice Ekwo ordered that he be further detained in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Justice Ekwo adjourned till May 27 for the commencement of trial.

The other terrorism case involving four suspected terrorists who allegedly kidnapped and killed the traditional ruler of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community of Imo State, Eze Basil Njoku came up before Justice Binta Nyako on Friday.

The four defendants are Jude Iheme and Chika Madukwe, Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke.

The sudden take over of the case by Prince Fagbemi from the Inspector General of Police, however, led to adjourning of the date in the re-arraignment of the defendants in the amended charges brought against them.

The AGF through a counsel, Mr. David Kaswe invoked sections 174 of the 1999 Constitution and 105 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to assume trial of the terrorism charges.

After announcing the take over of the prosecution, he pleaded with Justice Nyako to put off the arraignment till another date to enable him study the case file and ensure diligent prosecution.

He said that the Inspector General of Police had already been directed to make the case file available to the Federal Ministry of Justice for appropriate action by the AGF.

The three counts earlier slammed against the defendants have been increased to five in the amended charges.

Justice Nyako after taking arguments from Mr. Kaswe fixed 15 April 2024 for the re-arraignment of the defendants.

Iheme, 52 years of Amagwu Amanze Obowo local government area of Imo and Madukwe, 42 years of Ndi-Uche Etiti Omuimo local government area also of Imo State, were said to have killed the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022..

The defendants were accused of killing the monarch while coming from the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, after kidnapping and collecting a ransom of N4M cash from his family.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/575/2024, Iheme and Madukwe alongside others said to be at large were said to have conspired to commit felony to wit, acts of terrorism contrary to section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

They were also said to have armed themselves with guns and offensive weapons, attacked, kidnapped and killed the monarch on December 17, 2022.

The IGP also accused them of failing to volunteer information at their disposal to security agencies which could have led to apprehension of other kidnappers contrary to section 16 of the same Terrorism Act.

Part of the charge read “That you Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, 45 years ago and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke, 39 years all of Ehume in Obowo LGA of Imo State between June to August 2023 at Zone 9 Police Headquarters at Umuahia and Special Tactical Squad, Abuja during the police investigation of offence of kidnapping and terrorism of the Royal Eze, Basil Njoku conspired and brought false accusations with internt to cause Nwigwe Emeka Williams to be charged with kidnapping and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Act.

“That you Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, 45 years and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke, 39 years all of Ehume in Obowo LGA of Imo State between June to August 2023 at Zone 9 Police Headquarters at Umuahia and Special Tactical Squad, Abuja with intent to mislead the police investigators in the case of kidnap and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku, you gave false information to the investigators that a drunk man informed you that Nwigwe Emeka Williams is responsible for the kidnap and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku Knowing or having reason to know that information you gave to police investigators is false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Act 2004.

“That you Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, 45 years ago and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke, 39 years all of Ehume in Obowo LGA of Imo State between June to August 2023 at Zone 9 Police Headquarters at Umuahia and Special Tactical Squad, Abuja during the police investigation of offence of kidnapping and terrorism of the Royal Eze, Basil Njoku conspired and brought false accusations with internt to cause Nwigwe Emeka Williams to be charged with kidnapping and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Act.