Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly rearrested the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, shortly after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) released him following the reported fulfilment of his bail conditions.
Bodejo was allegedly taken into custody by DSS operatives on Friday as he left the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where his lawyers had gone to facilitate his release.
His fresh detention has reportedly raised concerns among his family, particularly as a Federal High Court in Abuja had granted him bail and the conditions were said to have been perfected.
Bodejo’s wife, Hajiya Hauwa Bodejo, expressed concern over the development, saying she could not understand why her husband was taken into custody again after the bail requirements had been met.
According to Hauwa, DSS operatives had been stationed around the EFCC premises for several hours before Bodejo was released.
She said the EFCC contacted Bodejo’s legal team on Thursday night and directed them to report to its Abuja office on Friday with court officials to facilitate his release.
However, she said the lawyers were later informed that the court officials were not needed because documents confirming the perfection of the bail conditions had already been submitted.
Hauwa said members of the family subsequently arrived at the EFCC headquarters and saw that Bodejo had been brought out of custody.
She alleged that as the family was preparing to leave the premises, DSS operatives moved towards Bodejo and took him away in three vans.
“But to the shock of our belief, as we were leaving the EFCC premises, the officials of the DSS, whose presence we noticed around the EFCC’s gate, rushed towards my husband and suddenly whisked him away in the company of three vans,” she said.
The development has also renewed concerns over Bodejo’s health.
Hauwa claimed that her husband’s health had deteriorated while in detention and that his personal physician had repeatedly been denied access to him.
She said Bodejo had spent nearly three months in detention, questioning the basis for his continued custody after the court granted him bail and the conditions were reportedly perfected.
The DSS had not publicly stated why Bodejo was taken into custody again as of the time of filing this report.
Bodejo is facing a 12-count money laundering charge filed against him by the EFCC before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC accused him of receiving several cash payments, including $200,000, $100,000 and $980,000, from a former Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sa’idu Abubakar.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the transactions contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
On July 20, Justice Ekwo granted Bodejo bail in the sum of N2 billion, with one surety also required to provide a N2 billion bond.
The court ordered that the surety must have a three-year tax clearance certificate and own property in Abuja valued at N2 billion.
Bodejo was also directed to surrender his international passport and remain within Nigeria unless granted permission by the court to travel.
The court fixed October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for trial.
Bodejo has previously been detained by the DSS. In January 2024, the agency arrested him over the establishment of a vigilante group in Nasarawa State.
He was later released following a court order in December 2024, after the court ruled that his prolonged detention was unlawful.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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