The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly rearrested the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, shortly after his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
Bodejo was said to have been taken away by DSS operatives on Friday as he was leaving the EFCC headquarters, where his lawyers had gone to facilitate his release after fulfilling the bail conditions imposed by the Federal High Court.
The development has triggered fresh concerns from his family and legal team, particularly because Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had granted him bail and the conditions were reportedly perfected.
Bodejo’s wife, Hajiya Hauwa Bodejo, said the family was shocked when DSS operatives allegedly moved in and took her husband away immediately after he was released by the EFCC.
She claimed that DSS personnel had been stationed around the EFCC premises for several hours before the release.
According to her, the EFCC contacted Bodejo’s lawyers on Thursday night and asked them to report at its Abuja office on Friday, initially directing them to come with court officials to facilitate the release.
She said the legal team was subsequently informed that the presence of court officials was unnecessary because the documents establishing that the bail conditions had been fulfilled had already been submitted.
Hauwa said the family later arrived at the EFCC headquarters and witnessed Bodejo being brought out of custody.
She alleged that the DSS operatives then approached him as the family prepared to leave the premises and whisked him away in three vehicles.
“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 towards my husband and suddenly whisked him away in the company of three vans,” she said.
The fresh detention has also raised concerns over Bodejo’s health.
His wife alleged that his condition had deteriorated during his period in custody and claimed that his personal doctor had repeatedly been denied access to him
She said her husband had been detained for almost three months, questioning the rationale for his continued detention after the court had granted him bail and the stipulated conditions had allegedly been met.
The DSS had yet to publicly state the reason for the reported rearrest as of the time of filing this report.
Bodejo is currently facing a 12-count money laundering charge filed by the EFCC before Justice Ekwo. He pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Photo File: Department of State SecurityThe EFCC accused him of receiving several cash payments, including $200,000, $100,000 and $980,000, allegedly from a former Bauchi State Accountant-General, Sa’idu Abubakar.
The commission said 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 also execute a N2 billion bond.
The court ordered that the surety must have a three-year tax clearance certificate and own property in Abuja worth N2 billion. Bodejo was further directed to surrender his international passport and remain within Nigeria unless authorised by the court to travel.
The judge subsequently fixed October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for trial.
Bodejo has had previous encounters with the DSS. The secret police arrested him in January 2024 over the establishment of a vigilante group in Nasarawa State.
He was later released after a court order in December 2024, when the court held that his prolonged detention was unlawful.