Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), have been summoned by the House of Representatives following the arrest of Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
During Thursday’s plenary, the parliament urged both military leaders to order Bodejo’s “immediate release” from detention and apologise to him for violating his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights.
The resolution was passed after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Mansur Soro from Bauchi State. Soro alleged that Bodejo was arrested “in a commando style with no prior invitation or court injunction” by officers of the 117 battalion of the Nigerian Army in Maliya, Nasarawa State.
Bodejo’s family claimed the arrest was related to an incident involving some herders and a retired army general in Tudun Wada, Nasarawa.
Soro pointed out that Bodejo had yet to be arraigned in court a week after his arrest and imprisonment.
He argued that the continued detention of Bodejo breaches his fundamental human rights and violates sections 34, 35, and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
The motion was passed after a voice vote led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Musa, Oluyede, and the commanding officer of the 177 battalion have been called to appear before the committees on army, human rights, and justice on Thursday.
