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Tag: Dino Melaye

  • Saraki, Melaye, Murray-Bruce urged to surrender

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki, Senators Ben Murray-Bruce and Dino Melaye should submit themselves to the police for investigation for alleged breach of the public peace, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled yesterday.

    Justice Okon Abang, in a judgment, declined a prayer by the three senators for an order nullifying the October 6 and 8, 2018 letters of invitation sent to them by the police.

    The police invited the trio in relation to their conduct during October 5, last year public protest in Abuja by some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), shortly after the party lost the last the Osun State governorship election.

    Justice Abang said the police, by virtue of the provision of Section 4 of the Police Act, was empowered to invite anyone, irrespective of status, while carrying outs itheir statutory functions of detecting and investigating crimes.

    The judgment was in a fundamental rights enforcement suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1095/2018 and filed on October 8, 2018 by the Senators, in which they claimed the invitation letters from the police breached their rights.

    The judge said the invitations sent to Saraki, Melaye and Murray-Bruce by the police did not amount to harassment and intimidation, as claimed by them.

    Justice Abang was also of the view that the police, having alleged, in its response to the suit, that the PDP’s protest was dispersed following the protesters’ riotous and criminal conduct, it was within its (police’s) powers to invite suspects for questioning.

    The judge added that the police invitation extended to the applicants remained valid, subsisting and must be honoured “without fail”.

    Justice Abang said the applicants could only complain of rights violation depending on the outcome of their honouring of the police invitation.

    The judge said: “The court cannot restrain the police from carrying out their statutory function; and in this case, they have acted within the provision of Section 4 of the Police Act.

    “They issued the letters dated October 6 and 8 inviting the applicants for questioning over their roles in the procession of the PDP that held on October 5, 2018.

    “The police acted in public and national interests. The letters of invitation dated October 6 and 8, 2018 remain valid and subsisting. The applicants shall respond and report to the police without fail.

    “It is the outcome of the applicants honouring the invitation that would determine if their rights have been violated; certainly not before honouring the invitation.”

    Justice Abang dismissed the suit for lacking in merit and awarded N50, 000 cost against the senators.

    In the earlier part of the ruling, the judge upheld the preliminary objection filed by the respondents and struck out the suit for being incompetent.

    The judge had, however, decided to rule on the merit of the suit, in case the superior courts later hold that he was wrong to have struck out the case at the preliminary stage.

    Read also: Unease in Kogi over lawmakers’ stand on CJ Ajanah

    He said the suit was incompetent because it violated Order 2(4) of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules.

    The judge noted that the provision of the rules expects the three applicants to file a separate suits and separate affidavits personally deposed to in support.

    The judge observed that Saraki, Melaye and Murray-Bruce, not only failed to file separate suits, but also failed to personally depose to the affidavit filed in support of their joint suit.

    “The affidavit in support of this suit, which was deposed to by Efut Okoi, a legal practioner in the law firm of Mahmud Magaji & Co., amounted to documentary hearsay,” the judge said.

    He equally said since the applicants did not show that they were in custody, or their movements restricted when the suit was filed on October 8, 2018, the situation did not fall under the exception under the rules which would have allowed another person to be able to depose to the supporting affidavit on behalf of the plaintiffs.

    The judge said: “The applicants ought to have filed separate suits. This suit is in contravention Order 2(4) of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules and it is liable to be struck out.”

    Saraki, Melaye and Murray-Bruce had urged the court to declare the police’s invitation letters, and the act of policemen, using tear gas to disperse their protest, violated their rights under sections 34, 35, 39 and 41 of the Constitution, as well as Article 11 of the African Charter on Peoples’ and Human Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

    They prayed for, among others in the suit, an award of N500m as “exemplary and pecuniary damages.”

    In their response, the respondents – the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, said over 100 hoodlums participated in the protest, in the course of which the procession allegedly made a “riotous attempt” to force their way into the police headquarters.

    The respondents accused Saraki, Melaye and Murray-Bruce of unlawfully obstructing streets, causing a disturbance of public peace, unlawful assembly, and committing felony among other crimes.

    They stated that it was within their power to invite persons suspected to have committed a crime for questioning.

  • UPDATED: Senate in rowdy session over alleged militarisation of elections

    Senators on Wednesday came short of exchanging blows in the chamber over alleged militarization of the just concluded 2019 general elections.

    Another bone of contention that pitched the lawmakers against themselves was alleged inconsistent application of electoral laws by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Tempers rose. Discordant and acrimonious voices became the order in the hallowed chamber. The chamber was sharply divided along party lines.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators and their People’s Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts, squared up for a possible offensive.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, came to the rescue to no avail. The chamber boiled as the lawmakers shouted and threw punches into the air.

    A motion on “The militarization of the Nigerian electoral process and the inconsistent application of electoral laws by the INEC” sparked the row in the chamber.

    It was sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) with Senators Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North), Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South), Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), Clifford Ordia (Edo Central), Ahmed Ogembe (Kogi Central), Biodum Olujimi (Ekiti South) and Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central), as co-sponsors.

    Melaye in his lead debate said: “Conscious of the need to grow our nascent democracy through the institutionalization of procedures, application of civil laws and the restriction of excessive use of military force in the civil affairs of the state;

    “Aware of the growing militarization of our nations electoral process, and the inconsistent application of electoral laws by the institutional umpire the IN EC, especially as witnessed in the recent national election 2019, where the presence of the use of extreme military force akin to a war campaign was applied in electoral polling stations, and the declaration of ’inconclusive elections,’ as a term being used inconsistently, and partially at the whims of electoral officers in occasions that appear solidly as similar cases;

    “Concerned that this extreme militarization of a democratic electoral process and the inconsistent application of electoral laws by INEC in matters of national elections pose serious threats to our democracy, and has security implications that must be nipped in the bud.”

    Melaye said that he is persuaded that the country is on the edge of a precipice, “and our democracy can be saved for future posterity, if only we can build strong institutions that can operate within established laws, and with our military forces restricted to their traditional roles of defending the nation.”

    The Kogi West Senator claimed that on the eve of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the ADC to the Governor of Kogi State, allegedly “mounted a roadblock with over 200 security agents, some of who were fake.”

    Many politicians of the PDP extraction, he said, were denied access to Kogi State.

    According to him, a former governor of the State, Idris Wada, was forced to return to Abuja when his security aides were seized.

    He added, “Some Senators here and members of the House of Representatives were stopped from coming into Lokoja. I had to consult some celestial powers and that was how I got into Kogi State and my village through celestial powers.”

    Melaye insisted that “this is not about PDP or APC. This is about Nigeria. Where is NPN, where is UPN. All these things will come and go. The Senate cannot look the other way, while these things are ongoing. Lecturers and youth corps members were killed during the elections. We can’t keep quiet in the face of obscurity.”

    “It is pathetic that there is no national broadcast from the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. We must not have this kind of elections again in this country,” Melaye concluded.

    Melaye prayed the Senate to accordingly resolve to: “Condemn the massive use of military forces in the national electoral process of the nation;

    ii. Urge the INEC to ensure the unrestricted and consistent application of all electoral laws without bias to a candidate or a party in all elections;

    iii. Direct the Senate Committee on INEC to investigate all perceived inconsistent application of electoral laws by INEC in the 2019 Elections; and

    iv. Urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to give assent to the recent amendment to the Electoral Act to ensure a level playing field and adoption of equal standards in our national elections for a strong and peaceful democracy in Nigeria.”

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan who seconded the motion said the essence of the Senate is to ensure the provision of necessary legislative intervention whenever the need arises.

    Lawan said, “We are here to smoothen processes in all affairs of governance. The challenges of elections in Nigeria have been here with us.

    “We should consider those things we feel need the intervention of the Senate.

    “I believe that our process remains a journey. Our electoral process in Nigeria needs a lot of refine and fine tuning.

    “The Executive is also concerned. Here, we have an opportunity to discuss with INEC what the challenges have been so that we can have an evaluation of the entire situation.

    “The ball is in our court. We should review what happened and see where legislative intervention is required. Then we will put it up before the Executive.

    “When INEC postponed the election, we were concerned because it was becoming a trend that must be stopped.”

    Trouble started when Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi went into specifics and spoke about election rigging.

    Olujimi said: “What happened on the 23rd of February have been captured by Melaye. We are Nigerians and we are in Nigeria. For this country to favour us, we must speak truth to power. Whoever is siding what happened during the elections because of partisanship, he or she is unfair to Nigeria.

  • Saraki, PDP plotting to hijack 9th NASS leadership, Nabena alleges

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena has revealed plots by Senate President Bukola Saraki and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to hijack leadership of the 9th session of the National Assembly.

    Nabena, in a statement in Abuja, said the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must move fast to nip such moves in the bud by coming out with a zoning formula for the emergence of leaders of the legislature.

    Nabena, who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, said the Senate President is working in tandem with what he called “Otta farm”.

    He warned the APC must move quickly and urgently roll out the zoning arrangements to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2015.

    Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara emerged Senate President and Speaker against the party’s wish in the outgoing 8th National Assembly.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Nabena said the outgoing Senate President and his party (PDP) have devised plans to ensure that there loyalists take control of the legislative arm of government.

    READ ALSO: End of Saraki hegemony

    He said: “The outgoing Senate President and the PDP caucus have begun surreptitious move to lure some new APC lawmakers with juicy committee position in return for their support for the PDP choice for the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    “Already, Saraki’s henchman, Dino Melaye and some other returning PDP federal lawmakers have scheduled meetings with some APC lawmakers from Wednesday to Sunday in a yet-to-be announced venue.”

    He stressed: “It is important that the APC leadership meet and urgently rollout a fair zoning arrangement to ensure that we produce our preferred candidates for all leadership positions in the incoming National Assembly.

    “Since Saraki lost his bid to return to the Senate and control of his home state, Kwara, he has devised a plan to ensure that he influences the choice of the incoming National Assembly Leadership. This is Saraki’s last-ditch effort to remain politically relevant.”

  • Updated: Senate resolves to debate conduct of 2019 elections

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to debate the conduct of the controversial 2019 general elections.

    The resolution followed a Point of Order (Order 42) by Senator Dino Melaye, which gives Senators the privilege to raise issues for consideration as they deem necessary.

    Melaye prayed the Upper Chamber to debate the way and manner the 2019 general elections were conducted across the country with a view to identifying shortcomings.

    The Kogi West Senator said the conduct of the elections were below expectation and should be debated with a view to making provisions that would aid the correction of observed anomalies.

    For him, the debate will afford Senators the opportunity to tell their stories about how the elections were conducted in the constituencies.

    He said the debate would also place the Senate in a better position to advise the President appropriately as well as to urge him to sign the amended Electoral Act for smoother elections in future.

    Melaye concluded the debate would assist the country to prepare a seamless election process in future.

    He sought to bring a substantive motion on the issue on the next legislative day.

    The proposed motion appeared not to have gone down well with some Senators especially those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) extraction.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, sought the leave of the Senate to allow Melaye to present his motion on the next legislative day.

    A Senator on the floor was over heard shouting that the voice vote should be declared inconclusive by Saraki.

    Those opposed to the motion appeared to be louder in their shout of “nay”

    Saraki ruled that what was needed to allow the motion was 1/5 of the leave of the Senate.

    Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, took the floor to remind Saraki that his ruling on whether to allow the motion or not was not clear.

    Lawan said, “A non- partisan motion was on the floor. We didn’t hear your ruling. What was your ruling on the motion? We did not hear your ruling.”

    Saraki reiterated what was needed to approve the motion to be debated was 1/5 of the leave of the Senate.

    He said that 1/5 leave of the Senate was secured.

    “My ruling is that the motion will be listed on the Order Paper for the next legislative day.

    Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’ Alla made a futile attempt to shoot down the motion by informing his colleagues that there was no motion on the floor in the first place.

    Na’Alla said Melaye introduced himself as Senator-elect instead of introducing himself as a Senator.

    Saraki reminded him that Melaye first introduced himself as a Senator representing Kogi West before adding that he is also a Senator-elect.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North) raised another Point of Order and attempted to call for division of the House to determine the position of Senators on the motion.

    Saraki cut him short.

    The Senate President insisted that what was required to allow the motion was 1/5 leave of the Senate.

    The Senate President further assured that the motion would first be screened at the leadership level before presentation and debate in the chamber.

    He noted specifically that the motion would be considered as a Pan Nigerian motion by ensuring that the debate is not partisan.

    Saraki also assured that issues in court will not be allowed as part of the motion.

  • Nigerian/Canadian filmmaker congratulates Buhari

    Canadian/Nigerian award winning filmmaker and chief executive officer (CEO) of Tabic Records Label Pascal Atuma has sent congratulatory message to the President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election for another four-year term.

    He calls for unity amongst Nigerians irrespective of party or tribal lines.

    Speaking from his base in Toronto, Canada, Atuma said: “First of all I must congratulate the President on his re-election. It is my strong hope that the trust given to the President by all Nigerians will be a source of inspiration for him to deliver the goals set as he works towards developing national unity, the economy, promoting transparency, and ensuring the welfare and security of the people of our country.

    Read Also: Wild jubilation in Edo over Buhari’s victory

    He also congratulated the ex-governor of  Abia State, Chief  Orji Uzor Kalu on his election to the Senate to represent Abia North Senatorial District. He said Chief Kalu has shown and demonstrated the never give up spirit of students that passed through Government College, Umuahia where the new senator acquired his high school education.

    Atuma also congratulated Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial District and Hon. Samuel Ifeanyi Onuigbo of Ikwuano Umuahia Constituency House of Representatives member on their re-election.

    Pascal calls on all the newly elected to support Nollywood and the entertainment industry for the interest and benefit of all Nigerians.

     

  • Video: Senator Dino Melaye in jubilant mood after re-election

    Following his victory at the just concluded 2019 polls, Senator Dino Melaye has taken to social media to express joy in praises to God.

    Melaye took to his Instagram page to share a video of himself singing in appreciation of winning his Kogi west re-election bid.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BuSuLGkHNrr/

  • Melaye defeats Smart Adeyemi in Mopa-Moro

    The incumbent lawmaker representing the Kogi West Senatorial district at the National Assembly and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Saturday’s rescheduled general election, Senator Dino Melaye, defeated his major challenger in the race, Senator Smart Adeyemi of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Mopa-Moro LGA.

    The Collation Officer for Mopa-Moro LGA, Mr. Ibrahim Ismaila, announced the interim results at the INEC LG collation centre in office in Mopa around 3am on Sunday.

    He said that the PDP (senatorial) candidate, polled 5,112 votes, trailed by Adeyemi of the APC, who polled 3,658 votes.

    Other results from Mopa are:

    ADC – 784

    SDP – 26 votes

    Total valid votes – 9717

    Rejected votes – 336 rejected

    Total votes – 10,055

    House of Representatives:

    PDP – 3,703

    APC – 3,157

    ADC – 2,609

    Total votes- 10,042

    Valid votes – 9,704

    Rejected – 338

    Presidential:

    PDP – 5,336

    APC – 3,646

     

    Total – 10,055

    Valid – 9,507

    Rejected – 336

     

  • Thugs obstruct movement of results to state INEC office

    The police and other security agencies have been called in to protect the senatorial collation centre in kogi West, as tension mount in Kogi East as suspected thugs are reportedly preventing the movement of election results to the INEC state headquarters, to Lokoja, the capital.

    The development has resulted in the delay of results from the senatorial collation centres across the state.

    Senator Dino Melaye confirmed the development in the in his (Kogi West) Senatorial district.

    Read Also: Breaking: Thugs set INEC office on fire

    The Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. James Apam said that no single result from the 21 local government areas have been received by the commission.

    Collation of results in the Kogi is characterized by suspense, raising fears of possible eruption of violence across the state.

  • Between Keyamo and Dino

    SIR: In the heated conversation that ensued between Festus Keyamo, spokesman for the ruling APC, and Dino Melaye, a serving senator and main opposition PDP member, I wish to state that the former was apt, clear and right on President Muhammadu Buhari’s call. In fact, it was a conversation that is truly enlightening and educative.

    Dino Melaye’s overall contribution can be summed up to be simply playing the emotional cards. In doing so, he was as theatrical as ever. Dino only plied the emotional route without concrete reasons other than sticking to the campaign script of the PDP – latch forcefully on any available opportunity that would favourably direct public sympathy to the party. In doing the aforementioned – ignore historical accounts and facts, strangle and twist logic, attach sinister colorations, and ensure all these are carried out in full blown denigrating verbal fisticuffs. That’s why he kept insisting that Keyamo is endorsing illegality with illegality. Citing example with children watching the programme. Sarcastically attacking the president and applying the draconian coloration. He argued without reason and logic, with little or no factual backing whatsoever.

    Keyamo on the other hand was very unambiguous and direct but swayed when invited to the mud by his counterpart. He dished out constitutional backings to the controversial statement of the president as expected.

    Now, do ballot box snatchers commit treason? Fact check: YES. The dictionary defines treason as “crime of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government”. By snatching ballot boxes, the offenders betray the electoral process of the country and consequently attempt to overthrow a government. Nigeria’s constitution describes treasonable crime as; “whoever intends to: (a) remove otherwise than by constitutional means during his term or office— (i) The President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria; or (ii) The Governor of any state of The Federal Republic of Nigeria. The punishment accordingly states that; “whoever commits treason shall be punished with death, and whoever abets treason shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for any less term or with fine or with both.

    Also, under the Armed Forces of the Federation 218 (1) the powers of the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation shall include power to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces of the Federation. By urging the security apparatuses to be ruthless in discharge of their duties, Buhari was simply exercising his powers constitutionally. The armed forces are guided on the exercise of their duties in securing and guaranteeing the sanctity of votes which has in the past been hindered by ballot box snatchers.

    On the use of force in arrest (like the ballot box snatchers) as captured in Tactics B: Lecture Notes For Senior Staff Course Qualifying Examination, prepared under the direction of Chief of Army Staff (2013), the law provides that in effecting or assisting in a lawful arrest of an offender or suspect or person unlawfully at large, a person (security personnel especially) could use minimum necessary force. Force may be used not only against the person who is being arrested, but also against any other person who is physically preventing or obstructing an arrest. Also, on the degree of force that may be used, the law submits that “ a person, whether a police, soldier or civilian, may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstance, for the prevention of crime and making lawful arrests.

    As for those raising alarm over the misinterpreted “kill” or coloured “shoot on sight” order of the C-in-C, section (e) under the use of firearms states that; a soldier can open fire also to defend property or persons, which is his duty to guard and protect from forcible crime, which could result in serious damage to the property or injury to persons. Hence, thugs here can be fired upon if they constitute a threat to credible elections which will cause serious damage to Nigeria and her citizens.

    Best advice? Like the famous slogan – don’t try it. Thou should not temper with the ballot boxes! Keyamo is 100% right and clear!!!

     

    • Ibrahim Yahaya,  Suleja, Niger State.

  • APC plans to attack Nigerians, PDP alleges

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has alleged plots by the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and its agents to load arms and ammunitions into vehicles painted in PDP colours and the names of some of its prominent chieftains.

    According the main opposition party, the plan is to use the illegal arms and ammunitions to attack gatherings and orchestrate violence across the country ahead of the general elections.

    In a statement Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said some of those marked for frame up in the planned attacks include its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Senator Dino Melaye among others.

    Citing “intelligence report” at its disposal, the opposition party said the governing APC will then clamp down on the targeted PDP chieftains and get them incarcerated.

    Condemning what it described as the heinous plot, the PDP said the plot was an act of desperation by the APC, as a result of despondency, arising from their rejection by Nigerians.

    Read Also; APC seeks postponement of Rivers gov election

    The statement reads: “We want all Nigerians to note that the PDP is a party of goodwill and our rallies have demonstrated that we are a people of peace.

    “Our objectives and goals, as laid down by our founding fathers, demonstrate unity, national cohesion and economic prosperity for our nation.

    “This is the path we have continued to toe in our campaigns, in spite of provocations by the APC and the Buhari Presidency.

    “The PDP is therefore, alerting Nigerians to take serious note of this plot by the APC, which is tailored to smear the image of our party and candidates, as well as divert public attention from their acts and threats of violence ahead of the 2019 general election”.