The House of Representatives has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Bello Badejo, president of Allah Kautal Hore, calling his detention unlawful.
The House urged the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oloyede, to take immediate action.
The Green Chamber also summoned them, including the Commanding Officer of the 177 Battalion, to appear before its committees on December 20, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. to explain alleged constitutional violations by officers under their command.
Furthermore, it ordered the military to issue a formal apology to Badejo for violating his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
The House’s decision came after Rep. Mansur Soro’s motion was adopted during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Moving the motion, Soro said on the 9th of December 2024, Badejo 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 Badejo’s arrest was reportedly linked to a dispute between a retired military general and some Maliya community members.
The lawmaker 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.
According to Soro, his continuous detention without formal charges is a clear violation of his fundamental human rights, as outlined in the Nigerian Constitution of 1999, specifically Sections 34, 35, and 36.
The following resolutions were adopted by the House: “It condemns the attempt by the officers of the 177 Battalion to usurp the role of the Nigerian Police and the courts in resolving disputes between citizens.
“It calls on the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff to order the immediate release of Alhaji Bello Badejo from unlawful detention and to apologise to him for infringing on his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights.
“It invites 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.”
On Tuesday, December 10, Badejo’s family made an appeal to the military high command, urging them to release him from detention.
His brother, Suleman Waziri, revealed to journalists in Abuja that his brother’s detention, which he deemed “illegal,” was linked to an incident that took place on December 8.
The incident, according to him, involved a confrontation between a retired Nigerian Army general and herders in Tudun Wada, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
He said: “The general reportedly discharged firearms at a herd of cattle, causing significant losses for the herders. Acting in self-defence, the herders disarmed the general and reported the matter to the police.
“Despite having no connection or involvement with this incident, Alhaji Bello Badejo was arrested on the 9th of December 2024 at his office in Maliya, Nasarawa State, in a commando-style operation carried out by the 117 Battalion.
“His arrest is wholly unwarranted and appears to be based on unfounded allegations.
“My brother’s only involvement in this matter arose when relatives of the herders approached him earlier on the morning of 9th December 2024, pleading for his intervention as a respected leader to help secure the release of their confiscated cattle.
“This was purely a humanitarian effort on his part, yet he was unfairly detained without evidence linking him to the events in Tudun Wada. Efforts by our legal representatives to meet with Alhaji Bello Badejo have been stonewalled.
“On visiting the 117 Battalion, both I and his legal counsel were denied access to him.”
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