“We Miss Our Father, Our Husband… We Are Traumatized” — Miyetti Allah Leader Bodejo’s Wife Cries Out Following DSS Re-Arrest
The family of the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, has decried his re-arrest by the Department of State Services, DSS, moments after he was released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Bodejo, who is facing trial over alleged money laundering, was admitted to bail on July 20 by the Federal High Court in Abuja but remained in detention until his lawyers perfected his bail conditions on Wednesday.
His wife, Hajiya Hauwa Muhammad Bodejo, who spoke on behalf of the family in an emotional video and to journalists in Abuja on Friday, said the court had served the EFCC with documents confirming the perfection of his bail, after the family sold properties to meet the conditions due to his deteriorating health.
According to her, the EFCC invited Bodejo’s lawyers on Thursday night to come with court officials for his formal release on Friday. The court officials, however, declined to return to the anti-graft agency, insisting their duty ended after serving the bail documents.
She narrated that when the family arrived at the EFCC headquarters on Friday, Bodejo had already been brought out from detention and officials were only waiting for them.
“But to our shock, as we were leaving the EFCC premises, officials of the DSS who we noticed around the EFCC gate rushed towards my husband, and suddenly whisked him away in the company of three vans,” she said.
Hajiya Hauwa said the family is traumatized by the development, stressing that they have fully cooperated with all investigations and believe in the rule of law.
“We have cooperated fully with all investigations. Yet it now feels like this is going beyond due process. As a family, we are traumatized. We miss our father, our husband. The damage to his reputation and to our home is something no family should have to go through,” she said.
She clarified that the family is not claiming Bodejo is above the law, but is pleading for justice, fairness and respect for due process while the case is still pending in court.
“We are not saying he is above the law. We are only pleading for justice and fairness. If there is evidence, let it be presented in court. Until proven guilty, we ask that he be treated with dignity and be released to his family if possible,” she added.
The family also raised alarm over Bodejo’s health, alleging that his personal physician has been denied access to him since his arrest over three months ago.
They appealed to the Federal Government, relevant authorities and the international community to intervene and ensure that court orders are respected.
As at the time of filing this report, neither the DSS nor the EFCC has issued an official statement on the re-arrest.
