Tension was high on Wednesday at the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as security operatives denied Senator Dino Melaye and others journalists from gaining entrance into its premises to submit what was taken to be “additional petition.”
It was gathered that a camera belonging to one of the Journalists was seized but later released when Melaye intervened.
Details shortly..
A prosecution witness told a Federal Capital Territory High Court at Apo, Abuja, yesterday that Senator Dino Melaye damaged two police vehicles in an attempt to escape from custody.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dennis Agbi made the allegation while testifying in the ongoing case of attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage to police property filed against Melaye.
Melaye, who represents the Kogi West Senatorial District, is facing a trial on six counts of attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage to police property.
The witness informed the court that while he was on duty on April 24, 2018 as a member of the IGP Special Tactical Squad,a white-coloured Toyota Hilux with Registration No. MKA 603 GY, was brought to him to record as exhibit.
He said when he inspected the evidence, he discovered that the right headlight of the van and part of the vehicle bumper were damaged.
Agbi said he marked the Hilux as exhibit NO. CER/STS/11/2018A in his records.
The vehicle was brought to court
He said the front right side mirror and left side back window glass were of the second vehicle, a white Hiace bus,were also broken.
After the inspection of the vehicles by the judge, they were admitted and marked as exhibits by the court.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Jovi Oghojafor, said that the Certified True Copy of the records of exhibit was not available to be tendered in court.
He further requested for an adjournment to enable him bring it at the next adjourned day.
Justice Silvanus Oriji adjourned the case until May 16, May 27 and May 28.
Director, Strategic Communication of President Muhammadu Buhari Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Senator Dino Melaye of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday clashed over the President’s statement on punishment for those who snatch ballot boxes.
On Channels Television, Keyamo said the President merely justified the position of the law, which outlines punishment for those who used forceful means to stop voters from enjoying their right to free electoral participation.
He said the position of the President was to warn the violent minority, who tried to make life unbearable for the peaceful majority.
Keyamo said the President would not seat aloof, while some thugs tried to derail the free will of the people to decide how they wanted to be governed.
He said: “What the President said is 100 per cent correct. The law is that when you are caught at the scene of an attack, for fomenting violent, like ballot snatching, that is you have threatened peoples live and the punishment for that is death.
“Again, when the President said those who snatch ballot boxes will be punished, he did not mention APC or PDP. He simply said those who snatch ballot boxes. So, why is the PDP making issues out of it.”
Responding, Malaye said the President’s statement was too harsh, noting that people could only by punished after going through due process and found guilty of the offences they are accused of committing.
He said government’s position amount to curing illegality with illegality, noting that it leaves the electoral process in a precarious situation.
“We are supposed to be in a civilised country, where there should be decorum. It is so appalling that such a statement emanated from the President. And instead of apologising, the APC is trying to justify the statement of the President.”
The Nigeria Police Force has faulted claims by the Senate President Bukola Saraki on the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye.
Saraki, in a statement, said alleged the police did not submit a letter of invitation to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
But the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood on Monday revealed copies of the letter of invitation sent to the Clerk, the medical report of the injured Police officer and pictures of the officer to serve as proofs.
The letter to the Clerk dated 23rd July, 2018 was signed by the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Ali Janga.
The letter was received on the 24th of July 2018 by the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly.
It 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 medical report of the injured Police officer, Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, from Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja was signed on 31st of July, 2018 by Dr. Aduloju F.A on behalf of the Consultant-in-charge of Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit.
The Police maintained its operatives with a duly obtained Warrant of Arrest deployed to arrest Senator Dino Melaye in his residence in Abuja will not retreat until Senator Dino Melaye surrenders himself for arrest and investigation.
Melaye is wanted by the Police for a case of 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, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF) on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.
On Saraki’s claim, the Police said: “The claim by the Senate President in the Media that the Police did not submit a letter of invitation to the Clerk of the National Assembly is therefore incorrect as can be seen on attached letter with acknowledgment stamp of the Clerk, National Assembly, Abuja “24 JULY 2018“. Despite this, Senator Dino Melaye bluntly refused to report himself to the Police till date.”
Moshood also said the Police Officer is yet to recover from the gunshot injury he sustained during the attack and still under intensive medical care in the hospital.
The Force also said it will ensure a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure the rule of law prevails and that no suspect no matter how highly placed, involved in any criminal matter escape justice.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the invasion of the residence of its Presidential Campaign’s Director of Civil Societies, Senator Dino Melaye in Abuja on Friday.
It flayed the Gestapo-like attack on Melaye’s residence and demanded the invading security officials vacate the premises immediately.
A statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, urged Nigerians to recall Melaye had a few days ago, alerted of a plot by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to forcefully arrest him and inject him with poisonous substances due to his outspokenness against the misrule, corruption and infractions of the Buhari administration
It reads: “It is therefore devious of the Nigeria Police, which had distanced itself from the plot, to turn round to invade Senator Melaye’s residence held hostage and beat up his domestic aides.
“This invasion is part of the larger machination by the Buhari Presidency to use state apparatus of power, particularly the police under IGP Idris to harass, intimidate and clamp down on opposition members in a bid to create fear and subjugate the opposition ahead of the 2019 general elections.
“The party recalls the series of attacks and harassment on PDP leaders, including the airport attack on its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by security officials and notes that such is a clear recipe for anarchy and a political crisis that is capable of destabilising our nation.
“The PDP therefore cautions the Buhari Presidency to desist from such provocative acts as such cannot bend the resolve by Nigerians to replace him with the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as their next President, come February 16, 2018”.
The enfant terrible of Nigerian politics, Senator Dino Melaye, recently stunned his audience at a dinner in Abuja with the disclosure that he was already a 200-Level Law student in an unnamed university. Bragging with his customary panache, Melaye did not mince words in confirming that he had a test on Constitutional Law a day after he addressed his audience. While everyone eagerly awaited the latest melody from “Ajekun Iya” maestro, he shocked the guests with his reason for studying Law. He said he opted for Law because of the high cost of legal fees he incurred on election petitions. What he failed to say was the extent to which the fortune he is blowing on hiring defence counsels for his trial for some crimes had depleted his resources.
Obasanjo in electoral shuttle diplomacy
DESPITE his determination to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from being re-elected, things are not adding up for ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in his game plan. On Tuesday, he made an emergency shuttle to Abuja where he met with PDP presidential candidate, ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar, the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, and some of his foot soldiers in the North on what can be done to end Buharimaniac in the three zones in Arewa. One of the outcomes of the session was the adoption of Alhaji Atiku on Wednesday in Abuja by 46 mushroom parties under the so-called umbrella of Coalition of United Political Parties(CUPP). The endorsement was hardly concluded when it became obvious to PDP that the 46 parties were more of liabilities than assets. None of them has ever won a councillorship seat.
Is Gov. Shettima tired of his SA Media?
The question on the lips of many observers of Borno politics is what went wrong between Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State and his Special Adviser, Communications and Strategy, Isa Gusau. Both have enjoyed a robust relationship that spans more than a decade even before the governor handed him his communication machinery to superintend when he became governor in 2011.
But the events of December 6, 2018, which saw the dramatic resignation of Mr Gusau barely six months to the expiration of his boss’s tenure, has puzzled many people.
Sentry learnt that Mr. Gusau resigned because he was unnerved by a heavy gang-up against him by a powerful political class in the state that had run out of patience with his excesses, excesses connected with privileges enjoyed from his principal, Gov. Shettima. “Mr Gusau was not just a spokesman for Gov. Shettima, he became so powerful in taking decisions that affected the political direction of Borno State because of his closeness to the governor,” a source disclosed.
On the straw that broke the camel’s back, Sentry gathered that the APC leadership in the state had openly dismissed Mr. Gusau as a nobody to question their intention to welcome back to the APC Grema Terab who left their party to the PDP after he was removed as SEMA chairman.
Mr Gusau, according to some sources, complained to his boss about the spiteful treatment of the party leadership towards him but was unhappy that his boss took no drastic measure against his persecutors, “not even a warning and therefore felt unprotected and threw in the towel”.
Was Gov. Shettima tired of his SA Media , or is he just respecting his boundaries as he winds up his term in office?
Atiku in danger of walking alone
THE golden saying is that charity begins at home. But for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he appears to be a political refugee in Adamawa State. It is an open secret that there is a cat and mouse game between him and the party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa, ex-Acting Governor Umaru Fintiri. Following an ongoing case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Atiku had wanted Mr Fintiri to step down by writing a letter of withdrawal from the race. The latter however sent word that Atiku would need to amputate his hands to get such a letter.
While still thinking of how to handle the Fintiri conundrum, one of Alhaji Atiku’s key aides, ex-Deputy Governor Muhammadu Tahir, during the week defected from PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). There are suggestions that one of his cousins, Dr. Umar Ardo, might also leave PDP to APC. And coupled with the political headache from one of his former boys, ex-Rep Emmanuel Bello, who is the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party(SDP), the home front is obviously not solid for the former vice president at all. Mr Bello enjoys the solid backing of the Christian community in the state.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back is the failure of ex-Governor Murtala Nyako to be on the same page with Atiku. The ex-governor, who is still influential in the state, parted ways with Atiku by joining African Democratic Congress (ADC) with his son, Sen. Abdulaziz Nyako. He refused to return to PDP. Wherever he turns, Adamawa State is like an active volcano to Allhaji Atiku.
Saraki, Lai Mohammed and Berlin Wall allegories
SINCE the November loss of a House of Representatives seat to the APC by the PDP in Kwara State, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, seems to have lost sleep. The signs were too ominous for him, and his political insomnia grows by the day. The PDP-Saraki’s latest ploy is to instigate traditional title holders in Ilorin Emirate (who are closer to the masses) to address the press to insinuate that the claim by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to have destroyed “Kwara’s Berlin Wall” on November 17, 2018 was targeted at mocking and diminishing the Emirate. PDP and Saraki on Tuesday leaned on the Magaji/Alangua Forum to hold a briefing alleging that Mr Mohammed actually suggested that the “Berlin Wall” of Ilorin Emirate had been broken.
But the people of Ilorin Emirate are not gullible; the Forum was shocked by the backlash. None of the local governments in Ekiti/Irepodun/ Isin / Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara State is in the Emirate. And Mr Mohammed was more forthcoming when he said: “While it is indeed true that I mentioned the Berlin Wall in my speech at the victory rally in my country home in Oro on Sunday, November 18, 2018, it was undoubtedly in reference to the stranglehold of the Saraki political dynasty on Kwara politics. Not once did I mention Ilorin Emirate in that speech…”
The running battle between the Police and Senator Dino Melaye may be far from over.
Melaye Friday raised the alarm over alleged refusal of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command to release his international passport as ordered by the court.
He noted that on July 25th, 2018, an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court ordered the Police to release his international passport to him following “a notice of discontinuance” filed by the prosecution on the charge “No: CR/12/18” in which he was standing trial before Magistrate Court Wuse Zone 2, Abuja.
The Kogi West senator claimed that “the fragrant refusal of the Police to comply with the court order” to release his international passport amounted to contempt of court.
He said that series of letters his lawyers wrote to the Police to retrieve the passport was not honoured by the FCT Police Command.
He noted that apart from the letters, his lawyer also went personally to the Police to retrieve the passport to no avail.
Melaye who said that the Police earlier set a precedent when they released his passport to enable him go for medical treatment abroad, wondered what made the July 25th, 2018 order difficult for them to comply with.
He said, “If a law enforcement agency will be the one breaking the law, how do you enforce the law. In a country under the rule of law, if an order of the court is given release this man’s passport, why would the court order not be obeyed. This buttresses the fact that the Police is still after me.
“Since April 22nd, 2018 the Police with drew my orderly. No politician has been so humiliated the way and manner I have been humiliated. The Police is still looking for me to arrest me over what I don’t know.
“I want to restate that the Police can only kill and injure the flesh, they cannot kill the spirit. I remain strong.”
Melaye said that he has dragged the Police to court for contempt of Court.
The senator who insisted that he was not fighting the Police by all standard noted that it is on record that the Police did not challenge the court order to release his passport.
The Senator Dino Melaye, (Kogi West) on Thursday reportedly escaped assassination when suspected gunmen opened fire on his convoy in Ayetoro-Gbedde, Ijumu local government area of the state.
The attackers who were allegedly dressed in police and the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) uniform were said to have attacked the senator on his way from Yagba.
An account had it that the attackers barricaded the road between Mopamuro and Aiyetoro with vehicles allegedly belonging to the police and the joint task force.
It added that on sighting Melaye’s convoy on his return from the inauguration of projects in Yagba federal constituency, the gunmen opened fire on the black G-Wagon Mercedes Benz conveying the senator.
Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) President, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has kicked against police arraigning Senator Dino Melaye on a hospital stretcher, saying, it represents a gross violation of human rights by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
OPC further called for the immediate release of the Senator.
In a statement issued in Lagos at the weekend, the Yoruba socio-cultural group vilified the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over the incident and others that, OPC complained, were contributing to the government’s sordid human rights records.
Fasehun said: “Transporting Senator Melaye on a stretcher from Abuja for arraignment in Lokoja, Kogi State, the IGP is behaving like a Gestapo police chief in Adolf Hitler’s Germany. That action is unacceptable. It is man’s inhumanity against man. The Distinguished Senator’s arraignment in a stretcher is degrading, dehumanising and draconian, and it deserves universal condemnation by all right-thinking persons.”
The Senator reportedly suffered back injuries as he tried to escape tear-gas fumes in a police vehicle transporting him to Lokoja, following which he was admitted in an Abuja hospital, from where police brought him to court on a stretcher in the Federal capital and subsequently to Lokoja, Kogi State.
“Senator Dino Melaye must not die!” Fasehun warned. “Whoever is maltreating him can only hide under the cover of this regime, but that person will surely account for this gross misdeed not only to Nigerians but the international community.”
Fasehun said, it was clear that the police were mishandling and maltreating the Senator as part of an ongoing script designed to silence the opposition.
“They just want to cow everyone into silence. This is one more attempt to stifle the patriotic voices that have tried to hold the PMB regime accountable in the National Assembly, in the Judiciary, in the social and traditional media, in civil society and in opposition political parties,” OPC said. “It is a throwback to the era of Decree 4 of 1984, when as maximum dictator; General Muhammadu Buhari made it dangerous to exercise your Freedom of Speech.”
He recalled that the IGP similarly displayed this tendency in the Benue killings, where the police chief disobeyed the President’s specific directive to relocate to Makurdi, the capital, to stem the wave of attacks from Fulani herdsmen.
Fasehun cited the continuing detention of Dambo Dasuki, Nigeria’s former Chief Security Officer, despite court rulings for his freedom, and the case of Sheikh El-Zakzaky, whose Shiite members have been killed by police during peaceful demonstrations.
OPC said that despite his theatrics outside the chambers and in the social media, Melaye by his contribution to House sessions reflects the best traditions of parliamentary democracy, with his bold, energetic, researched, cerebral and oratorical contributions to plenary.
OPC said, “Senator Melaye certainly does not deserve the inhuman treatment he is suffering at the hands of agents of the government. He should be released on self-recognition to take care of his health.”
According to OPC, it was a pity that rather than take advantage of its clear majority in the National Assembly to improve the welfare of Nigerians, the Buhari regime had spent the last three years in needless grandstanding and unfruitful battles with potential partners in progress.
HOUSE of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has told heads of security agencies involved in the case of Senator Dino Melaye to ensure his safety. He said nothing untoward must happen to the lawmaker.
According to him, they will be held responsible if anything happened to him.
The Speaker said the health of persons should supersede their arraignment in court.
He said: “All I can say is that nothing must happen to the senator. If anyone in this country commits an offence, the law is there for the person to be prosecuted or arraigned in court within the ambit of the law.
“I don’t think the law supports a situation whereby someone is in a dire health situation and is being arraigned, most especially that person is a senator.
“It is unthinkable that a distinguished senator or an honourable member of this House would run away from trial.
“So, my admonition to the security agencies is to do everything possible to ensure that his life is secured first before prosecution.”
Dogara’s warning followed a point of order by Sunday Karimi (PDP, Kogi), who said Melaye was being transported in an ambulance to Lokoja to face trial despite the state of his health.
Karimi said Melaye’s predicament was as a result of his resolve to fight for his belief.