House Summons CDS, Army Chief Over Unlawful Arrest, Detention of Miyetti Allah President, Bodejo

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja 

The  House of Representatives has summoned the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa; the Chief of Army Staff (CAS), Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oloyede and the Commanding Officer of 177 Battalion over unlawful arrest and detention of the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo.

To this end, the House directed Musa, Oloyede and the Commanding Officer of 177 battalion to cause an appearance before the House Committees on Army, Human Rights and Justice on Thursday, December 20, 2024 at 3:00pm to explain why officers under their command violated the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

The green chamber also directed the military to immediately release Badejo from unlawful detention and also apologise to him for infringing on his constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental human rights. 

The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Mansur Soro.

Presenting the motion, Soro said on December 9, 2024, Badejo was arrested in Maliya town in Nasarawa State in a commando style by the officers of the 177 Battalion of the Nigerian Army with no prior invitation or court injunction. 

The lawmaker stressed that the arrest was allegedly in connection to a misunderstanding between a retired military general and some members of the Maliya community.

Soro decried that one week after the arrest, Badejo was yet to be arraigned before a competent court of jurisdiction as required by the extant laws of the land. 

He lamented that the continued detention of Badejo by officers of the Nigerian Army without formal charge(s) was a violation of his fundamental human rights as provided for in sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. 

The House, therefore, condemned the attempt by the officers of 177 Battalion to take over the work of the Nigerian Police and the courts in resolving disputes between citizens. 

It called on the “Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff to order the immediate release of Alhaji Bello Badejo from unlawful detention and to also apologize to him for infringing on his constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental human rights. 

“Invite the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and the Commanding Officer of 177 Battalion to cause an appearance before the House Committees on Army, Human Rights and Justice on Thursday 20th December 2024 at 3:00pm to explain why officers under their command violated the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution”.