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Tag: Melaye

  • Melaye: IGP ignores Senate, accompanies Buhari to Bauchi

    …as Senate reschedules appearance for next week

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Thursday failed to honour the invitation of the Senate to explain the controversial arrest of a senator, Dino Melaye and the gruesome killings by suspected herdsmen across the country.

    Recall that the Senate had, on Wednesday, summoned the IGP to appear in the chamber to address the lawmakers in plenary on Thursday (today).

    The Police boss was, however, said to have accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari on a state visit to Bauchi State.

    Faulting the Police boss for not officially communicating to them on his non-appearance, the lawmakers asked that the appearance be rescheduled to next Wednesday.

    Details later…

  • IGP to face Senate today over Melaye

    The Senate yesterday adjourned plenary and summoned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris over the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi).

    The resolution followed a point of order by Senator Sam Anyanwu (PDP, Imo) on the arrest of Melaye, who has been having a running battle with the police over allegation of gun running.

    The IGP is to appear before the Senate today by 11.am during plenary. Our correspondent reports that all items listed on the Senate’s order paper were stepped down following the resolution.

    Anyanwu said: “When one person is humiliated, it is all of us. A senator of Federal Republic is being treated like a common criminal. We have lost our glory as a result of what happened yesterday.”

    Also speaking, Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi) described yesterday as a very bad day for the Senate. “An attack on one is an attack on all of us. He was being taken to SARS where common criminals like armed robbers are.”

    Ubali Shittu (APC, Jigawa) said it was a similar scenario that played out in 1984 that led to the end of the government. “This is not change we voted for. We did’nt vote for this government to be maltreated,” he said.

    But Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa) cautioned his colleagues against what he called, confrontational outpour, saying it won’t help Melaye’s situation.
    Senate President Bukola Saraki described the police action as a threat to democracy.

    “Even me in the last 48 hours, I’ve not been able to reach the IGP. That’s not disrespect to me as an individual but this institution,” he said.
    Senators visit Melaye at National Hospital.

    At about 1.pm yesterday, Saraki led all senators in two buses to the National Hospital, where Melaye was hospitalized. They arrived the hospital at 1.31 and left at about 2.20pm.

    After a brief meeting with the chairman of the board of the Hospital, Patricia Etteh, nine out of the senators were allowed into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
    In an interview with newsmen, Saraki said Melaye was in a stable condition. He said Melaye was not in handcuffs.

  • Melaye is in stable condition, says Saraki

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, says embattled Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) currently receiving treatment at National Hospital, Abuja is in stable condition.

    Saraki made the disclosure when he visited the lawmaker at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Melaye, who sustained an injury during his arrest by security operatives on Tuesday, was earlier taken to the Zankli Hospital, Abuja.

    He was later transferred to National Hospital by men of the Nigeria Police for treatment.

    He is being interrogated by the police in connection with sponsoring of political violence in Kogi and illegal possession of firearms.

    Saraki, who led some senators to the hospital, said “we have seen Sen. Dino; he is in intensive care unit and he is stable for now.

    “He is on fluids; he is being seen by cardiologists and all specialists.”

    Saraki thanked the management and staff of the hospital “for what they have done so far.

    “He (Melaye) is stable and being monitored. We pray for him to fully recover soon. He is not in handcuffs,” Saraki said.

  • Recall: INEC to verify signatures of Melaye’s petitioners April 28

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it will commence the verification of signatures of those seeking the recall of Sen. Dino Melaye on April 28.

    INEC Federal Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, made the disclosure at a stakeholders meeting on Wednesday in Lokoja over the commencement of the recall process.

    He explained that the verification exercise would hold in 552 polling units in seven local governments under Kogi West senatorial district.

    According to him, the verification will hold from 8 am to 2 pm using the card reading machines to authenticate the voter cards of those that signed the recall petition.

    “ Only those who signed the petition are expected to turn up at their polling units for verification,” Haruna said.

    Also speaking, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Prof. James Apam said that local observers would be allowed to monitor the exercise.

    He explained, however, that the verification exercise will not hold in eight polling units as no petition was received from them.

    The REC said that no party agents would be allowed access to any of the polling units, adding that the result of the exercise will be announced on April 29.

    “ We have concluded all arrangements in line with our schedule of activities and are set for the exercise.

    “ The adhoc staff have been trained at the state and local government levels and materials procured and sent to the registration area centres ready for movement to the polling units on the day of verification,” Apam explained.

     

  • BREAKING: Senate summons IGP, condenms ill-treatment of Senator Dino Melaye [Video]

    * Shuts down plenary for all Senators to visit Sen. Dino

    Apparently troubled by the ill-treatment of senator representing Kogi-West, Dino Melaye by police operatives in Abuja, the Nigerian senate on Wednesday shuts down plenary session, summons the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to appear at plenary on Thursday to brief lawmakers on Melaye arrest as well as the continuous killings of Nigerians across the country.

    Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, will be leading the Senators to visit Melaye at the National Hospital in Abuja to ascertain his condition.

    The visit comes after the Senator landed the hospital after he reportedly jumped out of a moving police vehicle.

    The lawmaker was rushed to Zankli hospital in Mabushi district of Abuja after jumping off the police vehicle around Area One.

    The police vehicle was conveying him to Lokoja, Kogi State where he is expected to be interrogated by the police in connection with the allegation that he armed some thugs and in relation to other criminal activities.

    Speaking at today’s plenary session Saraki described police handling of Melaye is a threat to every member of the Nigerian Senate.

    He words, “It affects all of us, not only us, but this institution and this democracy and these actions are a threat. The excesses must be contained in the interest of all of us.”

    “We are about to start elections and if these are the kind of excesses of those who are meant to be responsible for providing law and order, this is a great concern in this country. And those who are directly responsible need to take up that responsibility.”

    This is not what we should be spending our energy on. It is important for the IGP to come & brief us. I have tried so many times to find out what the situation is, & this kind of attitude must stop if we truly want to sustain & create an enabling environment.”

    “So, one thing is to ascertain his state of mind concerning the situation and also to find out and also to find a way out quickly, to find a solution to this problem so we can restore sanity.

    “We are not talking about the menace, but there is a procedure and a way to handle these things.

    Other Senators condemned manhandling of Melaye by police

    Here are the views of some of the senators as regards the drama between the Nigerian Police and Senator Dino Melaye.

    Sen Shehu Sani

    Senator states his concern about systematic factors in the country and that all should remember there is no permanence in power. “What happened to Senator is an abuse of power”.

    Sen Remi Tinubu

    “The people look to the Senate for protection. “The average man needs protection just as we do.”- Senator

    Senator states that she is not in support of what happened to Senator . “If Senators and can be taken away by the police, it destroys the sanctity of this chamber.”

    Sen Joshua Lidani

    “Senator is a very vocal person, he is being intimidated and targeted. It is clear that Dino Melaye is subject to inhumane treatment, let us all rise and condemn this act.”- Senator Joshua Lidani

    Sen Ubali Shittu

    We did not vote this Government to abuse democracy. I condemn shameful act totally invite all those involved to speak to us and this case openly to the public.”- Senator Ubali Shitu

    Sen. Isah Misau

    “It was only an allegation against Senator and since the matter is still in court, he should not be forced to go to Kogi.”- Senator

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Police evacuate Melaye to National Hospital

    Police operatives have moved Senator Dino Melaye out of the Zankli hospital to the National Hospital, Abuja.

    The lawmaker was taken in an ambulance marked NPF 221 D around 10pm on Tuesday.

    Two medical doctors with the Zanklin Hospital Abuja were said to have accompanied the senator who was said to be unconscious.

    Recall that Melaye landed in hospital after reportedly jumping out of a moving police vehicle in Abuja.

    Speaking on the struggle police had with Melaye, Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said in a statement: “At about 1200Hrs of today Sen. Dino Melaye while in lawful custody of the Nigeria Police Force and being taken for arraignment in Federal High Court Lokoja, from Abuja, escaped from lawful custody when hoodlums and miscreants in Two (2) Toyota Hilux Vehicles blocked the Police vehicle conveying Senator Dino Melaye around Area 1 Round About, Abuja and in the process the Senator jumped out of the Police vehicle through the window and was rescued from the Police men by hoodlums and miscreants to an unknown destination.

    “The Police team re-enforced and trailed Senator Dino Melaye to Zankli Hospital, Abuja where he was re-arrested.”

    Mr Moshood added that the senator would be arraigned in court without further delay.

    “Meanwhile, one of the Toyota Hilux vehicles used by the hoodlums and miscreants in aiding the escape of the Senator has been recovered by the Police investigation team.

    “The Inspector General of Police has therefore directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the rescue and escape of Senator Dino Melaye from lawful custody,” the statement concluded.

     

  • Melaye jumped off police vehicle to evade Kogi Gov assassination plan – aide

    Gideon Ayodele, spokesman to the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Dino Melaye on Tuesday explained why his boss had to jump off the police vehicle conveying him to Kogi State.
    Ayodele who made the disclosure in a statement he released to newsmen alleged that the security operatives were doing the Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello’s bidding in order to assassinate him.
    Recall that the police on yesterday said that Melaye’s arrest was necessitated by his involvement in a case of unlawful possession of prohibited firearms.
    Statement reads in full:
    Sequel to the avalanche of calls by well-meaning Nigerians and supporters of Senator Dino Melaye for enquiries about the well-being and safety of the Senator and against the backdrop of baseless rumours being spread on the social media, we are constrained to make the record straight as follows:
    Earlier in the morning, Senator Dino Melaye as a law-abiding citizen voluntarily submitted himself to the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) who had laid siege to his private residence since around 3.35pm of Monday, April 23, 2018.
    He, along with his lawyers and personal aides, was driven in his private car to the SARS office in Guzape district of Abuja, sandwiched among the numerous police vehicles earleir deployed to his house.
    For the avoidance of doubt, he had never evaded police invitation before now because there was none extended to him in the first place. Rather, what the Police FPRO, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, had been doing was to summon the Senator through media briefings, a practice which is unconventional.
    But given the media hype the whole saga had generated expecially his unwarranted travails in the hands of Immigration officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Aiport in Abuja on Monday, April 23 and the attendant but dramatic police siege to his private residence thereafter, where family members and political associates were subjected to traumatic experience for hours, it became necessary for Senator Dino Melaye to end the drama, hence his choice of appearing before the police today.
    Later on they moved to take him to Lokoja in Kogi State. The public will vividly recall that the case involving Senator Dino Melaye had already been transferred to Abuja by the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court after Senator Melaye expressed worry about his safety in Lokoja. Now, the question is why will they want to forcefully take him to Lokoja? The Senator believes they are doing the Kogi Governor’s bidding in order to assassinate him.
    Today’s incident was a last resort by Senator Dino Melaye in order to foil attempt to kill him by agents of Kogi State governor in connivance with the Police.

  • I will make myself available to police today — Dino Melaye

    Senator Dino Melaye ((APC, Kogi) has said that he would make himself available to police today.

    The embattled senator representing Kogi West disclosed this via his Twitter handle.

    “I will make myself available to the police today. My resolve to speak the truth and defend the poor masses of NIGERIA is Total. We shall overcome!!!,” he posted

    Policemen yesterday laid siege to the Abuja residence of Melaye.

    Melaye who was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja around 7:30am yesterday ‘escaped’ from the custody of the immigration officials after about an hour.

    Melaye was on his way to Morocco alongside Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, when the immigration officials arrested him.

    Why we invaded Dino Melaye’s Abuja residence – Police

    Armed security personnel comprising policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had laid siege to the place on Monday afternoon.

    The operatives took over the Sangha Street, Maitama, where Melaye’s house is located. They also barred four of the lawmaker’s colleagues from seeing him.

    “Our action was prompted by the fact that he was invited in a case of unlawful possession of firearms and other crimes.

    “The police had invited him on more than two or three occasions but he failed to honour the invitations. That is why we are there right now.

    “You know when a case is in court, there is no law that stops you from further questioning if you need to answer question on the suspects.

    “There is no law that stops the police from further inviting him or asking question about the case,” the Force Deputy Spokesman, Adeniran Aremu

     

  • Melaye trapped as police lay siege to his Abuja residence

    Melaye trapped as police lay siege to his Abuja residence

    Lawmaker representing Kogi west senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye is currently trapped as policemen have laid siege to his residence in the Maitama area of Abuja.

    Melaye had earlier tweeted about the incident, saying over 30 armed security personnel have surrounded his residence.

    Hsi words: “Over 30 heavily armed fierce looking mobile police men have just stormed My residence in Maitama, Abuja. All roads leading to House has been condoned off, as heavy mobile police men blocked entry & exit of the road. They currently laid siege on in and around The house.

    Recall that he was earlier in the day detained at the Abuja airport and blocked from travelling out of the country.

  • Melaye Assassination Attempt: Court issues bench warrant against accused

    A Kogi High Court sitting in Lokoja on Friday issued a bench warrant against one Ade Obege, standing trial with four others over alleged assassination attempt on a senator, Dino Melaye, in April, 2017.

    The presiding judge, Fola Ajayi, who issued the bench warrant following the failure of the accused to appear for his trial, also ordered that summons be issued to his sureties.

    When the case was called, the second accused was conspicuously absent and no cogent reason was given for his absence.

    Apart from the failure of Mr Obege to appear for his trial, the case could also not progress because of the absence of the police prosecuting counsel, Lough Simon, in court.

    Samuel Ikutanwa who held the brief of Mr Simon, told the court that the prosecutor could not attend the sitting because of the sudden death of his father.

    Mr Ikutanwa said the development had already been communicated to the parties to the suit, adding that he was not availed the details of the case.

    The counsel to Mr Obege, Ayo Jonathan, told the court that his client was last seen on March 22, when he came to court for his trial.

    According to Mr Jonathan, the wife of the accused said she had not seen her husband since March 22, when he left Okene for Lokoja, adding that he wanted to conclude that Mr Obege was missing.

    Reacting to the submission of the counsel, Mr Ikutanwa prayed the court to issue a bench warrant against the accused since there was no cogent reason for him not being in court.

    Justice Ajayi, in his ruling, ordered that a bench warrant be issued against Mr Obege, while his sureties be summoned.

    He adjourned the case to May 14 and 15 for hearing.

    The administrator of Ijumu Local Government Council, Taofiq Isa, and four others including Mr Obege were arraigned before late Justice Aromeh Akogu by the police over alleged involvement in the attempt to assassinate Melaye in April 2017.

    Unknown gunmen allegedly invaded the lawmaker’s residence in Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government, fired several shots into the compound and destroyed properties. No life was lost in the attack.