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Tag: Dino Melaye

  • Melaye, domestic staff arraigned in Abuja

    Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West was on Tuesday arraigned by the police on allegation of obstruction and resisting arrest.

    Melaye was arraigned with his domestic staff, Silas Omenka on a 9-count charge before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitaima, Abuja.

    They both pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

    Defence lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) moved the bail application he filed for his client and urged court to grant them bail.

    Ozekhome urged the court to retain the conditions attached to the bail it earlier granted Melaye on January 18 this year, which had already been fulfilled but the police refused to release Melaye.

    Responding, prosecution lawyer, Magaji Labaran did not oppose the bail application, but prayed the court for stringent bail conditions.

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    While responding on point of law, Ozekome argued that Melaye  is a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Ozekhome added that Melaye had been given his passport to travel abroad before now and he returned, so the question of jumping bail or interfering with investigations does not arise.

    He equally argued that the question of his client tampering with investigation does not arise as the police have concluded with investigations before arraigning the defendants.

    He said Melaye is standing election for the senatorial seat on the February 16 this year and as such would not run away.

    Ruling, Justice Halilu granted on the conditions attached to the bail earlier granted Melaye on January 18.

    The judge adjourned to February 25 this year for trial.

    The judge had on February 18 ordered Melaye to produce three sureties, two of which must have landed properties in Abuja metropolis.

    Justice Halilu said the third surety must be the Clerk of the National Assembly, who must undertake to produce Melaye in court.

  • Davido gifts Ikorodu Bois N1m for Melaye skit

    In appreciation of the efforts of teen comedian group, Ikorodu Bois, for mimicking Senator Dino Melaye’s acts, hip hop star Davido, has gifted them the sum of N1 million.

    In a series of videos, the Ikorodu Bois mimicked how the Senator acted as he was taken to the hospital after his arrest by the Nigeria police and his mutterings, claiming he wasn’t feeling fine while he laid on a hospital bed.

    While many Nigerians laughed at the skit, Davido appreciated the boys by asking them to send their account number which he credited with N1million.

    “Lmao, this kids are legends,” wrote Davido.

    “Send una account make I send 1m to una. this one enter.”

    Ikorodu Bois responded by writing, “@davidoofficial ahhhhhhhhhh OBO”, also including emojis of love.

    Many of the comments thanked Davido for his gesture of not only recognising the boys’ talents but also giving them money.

  • Breaking: Masked policemen whisk away Senator Dino Melaye

    Masked men suspected to be police operatives on Friday stormed the Police Clinic in Garki, Abuja and made away with hospitalised Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye.

    Melaye collapsed last week at the police headquarters and was admitted to the police hospital.

    He was reportedly whisked away at about 2:15pm on Friday.

    But Police sources said the operatives that took him over had arrest warrant.

    The sources disclosed he was taken to a DSS clinic for further medical treatment following his complaints of ill-health.

    Details Shortly…

     

  • Police declare Melaye fit for trial

    The Nigeria Police Force has declared the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye fit to face trial.

    The Police said it arrived at the conclusion after several test conducted on the Senator came out negative adding that it was an indication that the Senator was not medically challenged as he claimed.

    But Melaye urged the police to relocate him to National hospital after three days of treatment at Police hospital in Garki, Abuja.

    Certifying the Senator medically fit for trial, the Police Authority described the Senator’s request and actions so far as Nigerian Home video part 2.

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Police Medical, AIG Kaomi Amadu also faulted Melaye’s claim based on medical record from expert.

    Read Also: Photos: ‘Sick’ Dino unwilling to leave for court

    Senator Melaye, whose Abuja residence was under siege for eight days surrendered to Police operatives at the weekend amidst drama which landed him in the hospital.

    The senator is wanted by the Police for a case of Criminal Conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, committed on 19th July, 2018, when him and his armed thugs allegedly attacked Police personnel; shot and wounded Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF) on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.

  • Photos: ‘Sick’ Dino unwilling to leave for court

    Senator Dino Melaye(Kogi West), who surrendered to the Police authorities after a seven-day standoff, on Monday refused to leave his hospital bed for appearance in a Lokoja court over charges of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide.

    The Police alleged the controversial Melaye committed the offences on 19th July 2018 with his armed thugs who attacked Police personnel, shot and wounded SGT Danjuma Saliu on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.

    Melaye fainted on Friday in front of the waiting police team.

    He was revived of a suspected asthma attack before being taken to a Police hospital.

    When Police operatives arrived to pick Melaye, who has been in custody at a Police hospital, he claimed he was sick and unable to stand up.

    Details later

     

    Read Also: Drama as Melaye surrenders to Police

  • PHOTOS: Dino Melaye surrenders to Police

     

  • Updated: Drama as Dino surrenders to Police

    Senator Dino Melaye ( Kogi West) has surrendered to police operatives for investigation.

    The Senator surrendered to the Police after a week siege to his residence in Maitama area of Abuja.

    His water and electricity supply was also cut off.

    The Police had insisted during the week that they would maintain the siege to his residence until he surrenders himself for investigation.

    The Senator is wanted by the Police for a case of Criminal Conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, committed on 19th July, 2018, when he and his armed thugs allegedly attacked Police personnel; shot and wounded Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF) on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.

    After the said incident, the Police sent a letter to the Senator through the Clerk of the National Assembly in July 2018 but the invitation was not honoured.

    The letter reads in part: “This office is investigating a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Attempted Culpable Homicide reported against Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial District Zone.

    “You are kindly requested to inform the said Sen. Melaye to report to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command through the undersigned on Thursday 26th July, 2018 at 1100hrs to assist Police investigation.”

    The Senator is however believed to have surrendered to the operatives after some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers went to his house to persuade him.

    After he surrendered, the Police Team were on the way to their office to commence investigation when the Senator fainted due to asthma attack.

    After attempts to resuscitate him with his inhaler failed, the Police had to take him to an undisclosed hospital for proper treatment.

    A source at the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), told The Nation that the Senator decided to act drama after he surrendered to the Police Team.

    He said: “You know the Senator is a drama king. He walked gallantly to his car and just a trip from Maitama to our office, he started acting faint. He fainted due to what he described as asthma attack.

    “Despite using inhaler, the Senator still acted weakly. So instead of bringing him to our office, we had to take to the hospital for proper treatment since health comes first.

    “It is only someone who is alive that we can investigate, so we need him to get well before we proceed with any investigation.”

    The Force Spokesman in a statement in Abuja on Friday however stated the Senator is in stable condition in a Police hospital.

    Commenting on circumstances that led to the siege to Melaye’s residence and how he finally surrendered, the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, said: “Senator Dino Melaye wanted by the Police for criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, committed on 19th July, 2018, when Senator Dino Melaye and his armed thugs attacked Police personnel, shot and wounded SGT Danjuma Saliu on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State has surrendered to the Police Investigation Team on wait at his residence, today, 4th January, 2019 at about 1500hrs.

    “The Police Officer, Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, is yet to recover from the gunshot injury he sustained during the attack and still under intensive medical care in the hospital.

    “The Police Investigation Team had since 28th December, 2018 at about 1000hrs arrived the residence of Senator Dino Melaye with a duly obtained Warrant of Arrest to effect his arrest to answer to a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Attempted Culpable Homicide against him under investigation in the Kogi State Police Command. Senator Dino Melaye on sighting the Police Team locked up himself in the building to evade arrest.

    “The Warrant of Arrest was obtained after Senator Dino Melaye refused to honour Police invitation dated 23rd July, 2018, signed by the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command addressed to the Clerk, National Assembly, Abuja, inviting Senator Dino Melaye to report on 26th July, 2018 at 1100Hrs at the Kogi State Police Command, CIID, Lokoja to answer to a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Attempted Culpable Homicide against him under investigation in the Kogi State Police Command.

    “The Police Investigation Team cordoned off the building and continued to be in wait for eight days for Senator Dino Melaye to obey the law and surrender himself for arrest.

    “While the Police Investigation Team was waiting, Senator Dino Melaye granted an interview monitored on Television Stations that he was not in Abuja.

    “This claim eventually was discovered to be completely false as Senator Dino Melaye surrendered to the waiting Police Investigation Team today at his residence in Abuja at about 1500hrs.”

    The Police also said Melaye was currently in its custody for investigation and taken to Police hospital, Abuja for medical attention adding that he was in stable condition.

    Moshood also revealed that investigation into the case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide against him is on-going after which it will be taken to court.

     

     

  • NHRC asks IGP to end police’s siege on Melaye’s house

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has faulted the continued siege on the Abuja home of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    A statement issued on Friday by NHRC’s spokesman, Lambart Oparah, quoted the commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu as arguing that the method adopted by the police violated the rights of other occupants of the house.

    The NHRC urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to direct the immediate withdrawal of his men from the Senator’s house.

    The NHRC said it will continue to condemn acts of impunity by law enforcement agents until they learn to carry out their law enforcement duties within minimum accepted international standards of law enforcement.

    The commission added that it will not tolerate any form of impunity, particularly from the security agencies as we approach the elections.

    Part of the statement reads: “The NHRC condemns in strong terms the method adopted by the Nigerian Police in laying siege in the house of Senator Dino Melaye and calls on the Inspector General of Police to direct the immediate withdrawal of his men from the Senator’s house.

    “Executive Secretary NHRC Tony Ojukwu faults the methodology adopted by the Police in effecting the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye.

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    “The right to freedom of movement of occupants of the house have been violated consequentially.

    “Is Senator Melaye the only occupant of the house? How about the rest of the family and other people in that house and neighborhood?

    “It is not a matter of whether the doors are locked from inside or outside but the rest of the people are now terrified and unsure of their security due to the siege.

    “Under normal circumstances the Police ought to invite anybody for questioning and not to lay siege in the house thereby threatening infringement of the right of others.”

  • Submit yourself to Police, Falana advises Melaye

    Lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has advised Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, to submit himself for arrest by the Police in order to end the drama and the unwarranted inconvenience to which his family and neighbours have been subjected in the past six days.

    Falana who gave the advise in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday in reaction to the insistence of the Police to arrest Senator Dino Melaye on the allegation that he has committed the offences of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, urged legislator of the upper chamber, to do so without any further delay.

    He argued that “by politely requesting Senator Melaye to submit himself for arrest, the Nigeria Police Force has accorded him the special treatment that is normally reserved for Very Important Personalities (VIP’s) in Nigeria by security agencies”.

    He contended that but for Senator Melaye’s privileged position in the country, the Police would have forcefully arrested him without laying any siege to his house.

    He regretted that the decision of the senator not to submit himself for investigation, led to the situation where a team of police personnel have surrounded his residence with a view to effecting his arrest noting that the siege to the house by the Police had needlessly lasted for six days while the supply of electricity and water to the house has been disconnected by the Police. Such action cannot be justified in law.

    To buttress his advice to the senator to submit himself for arrest, the senior lawyer cited a decided case relating to the matter.

    He said: “the Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear in the case of Dr. Oladele Fajemirokun v Commercial Bank (Nig) Limited (2009) 21 WRN 1 that no court has the power to restrain the Police from arresting any citizen who is alleged to have committed a criminal offence”.

    Senator Melaye, Falana noted, has however refused respond to the invitation of the Police on the grounds that the permission of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was not sought and obtained.

    Falana contended that the Nigeria Police Force is not required to seek the consent or obtain the permission of the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives before arresting a member of the national assembly who is alleged to have committed a criminal offence in any part of the country.

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    While admitting that the fundamental right of every citizen to personal liberty is guaranteed by section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria and article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, he argued that such right may however be violated by the State if there is reasonable suspicion that any citizen has committed a criminal offence contrary to what he described as the misleading statement credited to the leadership of the Senate on the procedure for the arrest of legislators.

    “Since legislators are not entitled to immunity under section 308 of the Constitution they are liable to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted if they are linked with the commission of any criminal offence. However. the arrest, investigation and prosecution must be conducted in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the penal statutes and the Constitution”, he stated.

    Falana however blamed the Police for the sensationalizing the planned arrest of the Senator Melaye.

    “The Police ought to have effected the arrest of the Senator under the relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which empower the Police and other law enforcement to break into any house to arrest if there is evidence that any criminal suspect against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by any court has absconded or is concealing himself or herself so that the warrant cannot be executed.

    “By sending over 60 armed police personnel to arrest a citizen is exposing the federal government to ridicule”, he lamented.

  • Court refuses to order police out of Melaye’s residence

    The Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday, refused a request by Sen. Dino Melaye for the Police to vacate his residence and desist from further attempts to arrest him.

    Justice Nkeonye Maha refused to grant the request which was brought via a motion ex parte brought by Melaye praying the court to order the Nigerian Police Force to vacate his residence.

    Melaye told the court in the fundamental rights enforcement suit that his Abuja home had been invaded and occupied by officers of the Nigerian Police.

    The motion was brought pursuant to Order 4 Rule 3 ‎and 11 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Rule and Sections 33 and 35 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    Melaye also asked the court for an interim order asking the police ‎to vacate his premises and to remove all blockades to the entrance so as to allow free entry and exit.

    He further asked for an interim order of court restraining the respondents from further threatening his life or throwing his life in jeopardy.

    The lawmaker also asked the court to restrain the police from taking further steps to arrest him or further infringe on his rights to free movement.

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    Mr Okoro, from the law firm of Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who filed the motion on behalf of Melaye argued that under Sections 23 to 30 of the Police Act, the police lacked the powers to block Melaye’s premises.

    The motion was supported by a 36 paragraph affidavit attached with seven exhibits and a written address.

    Justice Maha, on listening to the submissions of Okoro held that the motion ex parte was refused.

    She however ordered for accelerated hearing of the substantive suit and adjourned it until Jan. 14.

    ‎She also ordered that the case file be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati for reassignment since her sitting as a vacation judge ends on Jan. 3.