House of Representatives, on Tuesday urged the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to immediately release the president Miyetti Allah Cattlebreeders, Bello Bodejo from unlawful detention.
The House also summoned Musa, Oluyede, and the Commanding Officer of the 177 Battalion to appear before its Committees on Army, Human Rights, and Justice on Thursday, 20th December 2024, at 3:00 p.m. to explain why officers under their command violated the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
The lawmakers further directed the military to apologise to Bodejo for infringing on his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Mansur Soro.
Soro while moving the motion, stated that on the 9th of December 2024, Bodejo was arrested in Maliya town of Nasarawa State in a commando-style operation by officers of the 177 Battalion of the Nigerian Army without prior invitation or a court injunction.
He noted that the arrest was allegedly connected to a misunderstanding between a retired military general and some members of the Maliya community.
Soro expressed concern that, one week after the arrest, Badejo had yet to be arraigned before a competent court of jurisdiction, as required by extant laws.
The lawmaker stressed that the continued detention of Bodejo by officers of the Nigerian Army without formal charges 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 resolved as follows:
– Condemn the attempt by the officers of the 177 Battalion to usurp the role of the Nigeria Police and the courts in resolving disputes between citizens.
– Call on the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff to order the immediate release of Alhaji Bello Bodejo from unlawful detention and to apologise 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 the 177 Battalion to appear before the House Committees on Army, Human Rights, and Justice on Thursday, 20th December 2024, at 3:00 p.m. to explain why officers under their command violated the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
