The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly rearrested the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, shortly after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) upon meeting his bail conditions.
Bodejo was allegedly taken into custody by DSS operatives on Friday as he left the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where his lawyers had gone to facilitate his release.
The development has raised concerns among his family, particularly because a Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier granted him bail and the conditions were reportedly fulfilled.
Bodejo’s wife, Hajiya Hauwa Bodejo, said she was confused by the fresh detention and questioned why her husband was taken away after the bail requirements had been met.
According to her, DSS operatives had been stationed around the EFCC premises for several hours before Bodejo was eventually released.
She said the EFCC contacted Bodejo’s lawyers on Thursday night and asked them to report to its Abuja office on Friday alongside court officials to facilitate his release. However, the legal team was later informed that court officials were not required because documents confirming the perfection of the bail conditions had already been submitted.
Hauwa said the family later arrived at the EFCC headquarters and saw Bodejo being brought out of custody.
She alleged that as the family prepared to leave the premises, DSS operatives approached Bodejo and took him away in three vans.
She also expressed concern about his health, claiming that his condition had worsened during his detention and that his personal doctor had repeatedly been denied access to him.
According to Hauwa, Bodejo has spent almost three months in detention, making the fresh arrest particularly concerning to the family after the court had granted him bail.
As of the time of the report, the DSS had not publicly stated why it took Bodejo into custody again.
Bodejo is currently facing a 12-count money laundering charge filed by the EFCC before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The EFCC accused him of receiving several cash payments, including $200,000, $100,000 and $980,000, from former Bauchi State Accountant-General Sa’idu Abubakar. The agency alleged that the transactions violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
On July 20, Justice Ekwo granted Bodejo bail in the sum of N2 billion, requiring a surety to provide an additional N2 billion bond.
The court also directed that the surety must have a three-year tax clearance certificate and own property in Abuja worth N2 billion. Bodejo was ordered to surrender his international passport and remain in Nigeria unless granted permission by the court to travel.
The court scheduled October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for the commencement of his trial.
Bodejo had previously been detained by the DSS in January 2024 over the establishment of a vigilante group in Nasarawa State. He was later released following a December 2024 court order which declared his prolonged detention unlawful.
