By Palang Paul
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly re-arrested the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, shortly after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after reportedly meeting his bail conditions.
Bodejo was reportedly taken into custody by DSS operatives on Friday as he left the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where his lawyers had gone to secure his release.
His wife, Hajiya Hauwa Bodejo, expressed anger and confusion over the development, questioning why her husband was taken into custody again after the conditions attached to his bail had reportedly been fulfilled.
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 lawyers on Thursday night and asked them to come with court officials for his release on Friday. However, the lawyers were later informed that they did not need to return with the court officials because documents confirming that the bail conditions had been perfected had already been submitted.
Hauwa said the family later arrived at the EFCC headquarters and found that Bodejo had been brought out of detention.
She alleged that as the family prepared 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 toward my husband, and suddenly whisked him away, in the company of three vans,” she said.
The development has also heightened the family’s concern over Bodejo’s health.
Hauwa alleged that his health condition deteriorated during his detention and that his personal doctor had repeatedly been denied access to him.
She said Bodejo had spent almost three months in detention and questioned the basis for keeping him in custody after the court granted him bail and the bail conditions were reportedly fulfilled.
The DSS has not publicly disclosed why its operatives re-arrested Bodejo following his release from EFCC custody.
Bodejo is facing a 12-count charge filed by the EFCC before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering involving about $2.63 million. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC alleged that Bodejo received several cash payments, including $200,000, $100,000 and $980,000, from former Bauchi State Accountant-General Sa’idu Abubakar, in transactions the commission said breached provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
On July 20, Justice Ekwo granted Bodejo bail in the sum of ₦2 billion, with one surety in the same amount.
The court required the surety to possess a three-year tax clearance certificate and own property in Abuja valued at ₦2 billion. Bodejo was also ordered to surrender his international passport and remain within Nigeria unless permitted by the court.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for trial.
Bodejo had previously been arrested by the DSS in January 2024 over the establishment of a vigilante group in Nasarawa State. He was later released following a court order in December 2024 after the court found his prolonged detention unlawful.
His latest re-arrest is expected to generate further legal questions as his family and lawyers seek clarification on the basis for the DSS action.
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