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Tag: Melaye

  • Melaye approaches Supreme Court over recall saga

    Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has urged the Supreme Court to declare the petitions submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking his recall as illegal.

    The Senator in an appeal he filed against the March 16, 2018 judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, also urged the apex court to declare the recall process as illegal.

    Melaye had on Tuesday filed a seven-ground notice of appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal which had dismissed his suit instituted before the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the validity of the process of his recall which commenced June last year.

    The Court of Appeal had in its March 16, 2018, judgment held that contrary to Melaye’s contention, the 90 days provided by the 1999 Constitution for the recall process to be concluded had not run out but had been paused since June 23, 2017 when he commenced the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    With the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of the suit, the preconditions earlier given by the Federal High Court in Abuja for INEC to fulfill before continuing the recall were set aside.

    The appeal court’s judgment, therefore, paved the way for INEC to continue the recall process which had been stalled by Melaye’s suit.

    Following the Court of Appeal’s judgment, INEC had announced that the recall process would resume on April 28.

    But on Tuesday, Melaye, through his lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed his appeal against the judgment, contending that the three Justices of the Court of Appeal who delivered the unanimous judgment dismissing his suit erred in law.

    Also on Wednesday, the senator filed a motion before the Court of Appeal seeking the stay of execution of the court’s judgment.

    In his notice of appeal, apart from seeking the Supreme Court’s order allowing his appeal, he also urged the apex court to, among others, ”declare the petition purportedly presented to INEC for the recall of the plaintiff/ appellant as illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional, invalid, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    He urged the court to, “Declare the recall processes purportedly initiated against the plaintiff by INEC on the basis of the petition for the recall of the plaintiff/appellant, as illegal, unlawful, wrongful,unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever, same having been commenced and conducted on the basis of an invalid petition;

  • Police set May date to arraign Dino Melaye, 4 re-arrested suspects

    The Nigeria Police Force said it would arraign Sen. Dino Melaye and the four suspects rearrested for alleged conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi on May 10.

    The suspects are: Kabiru Seidu, 31, alias Osama, Nuhu Salisu, 25, alias small, Musa Mohammed, 27, alias Iko and Emmanuel Audu, 26.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that on March 28, the Police Command in Kogi announced the escape from lawful custody of six suspects including Seidu and Salisu.

    Recall that the police had on March 30 announced the re-arrest of four of the six suspects.

    The Force Spokesman, ACP Jimoh Moshood, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the arrest of four of the six suspects on Tuesday in Abuja, said two of the suspects were still at large.

    Moshood said that Seidu and Salisu who were principal suspects were rearrested in Tafa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Ganaja Village, Lokoja, Kogi.

    The spokesman said that the six accomplice in the case arrested by the police would be prosecuted with the six rearrested suspects.

    The suspects are: John Beneche, 22, Seye Atowoju, 27 Danjuma Yunusa, 35 , Egga Ochai, 50 Abbas Haruna, 30 and Gloria Audu, 28.

    He said that the suspects would be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigation.

    Moshood warned that the police would not relent in its efforts to check activities of unscrupulous politicians, adding that they must play the game according to the rules.

    He commended members of the public for giving the police timely information that aided the re-arrest of the suspects.

    The spokesman said that the force`s fight against crimes and criminality in the country remained unequivocal and unwavering.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports thst one of the suspects, Seidu had confessed that Melaye handed over to him a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and N430,000.00 to share with his boys.

  • Melaye: Police rearrest three escaped suspects in Kogi

    The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that three out of the six suspects who escaped from custody on Wednesday have been arrested.

    The outgoing Commissioner of Police in the state, Ali Janga, while confirming the news, however, did not disclose the names of the rearrested suspects.

    He said, “Yes, it is confirmed, but note that I am no longer the CP, I have been removed. So, talk to the new CP.”

    According to findings, the suspects were rearrested on Friday at an undisclosed location.

    It was gathered that two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds while trying to flee from the police.

    They were said to be receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, the capital, as of the time of filing this report.

    Janga was fired by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, following the escape of the suspects from custody.

    The suspects are Kabiru Seidu, a.k.a Osama; Nuhu Salisu, a.k.a Small; Aliyu Isa; Adams Suleiman; Emmanuel Audu; and Musa Mohammed.

     

  • I will sue police IG for escape of gun suspects – Melaye

    Senator Dino Melaye has threatened to sue the Inspector General of Police over the reported escape of two crime suspects who accused him of being their gun supplier.

    Police had on Wednesday said the two suspects had escaped from their custody, declaring them wanted as well as the senator.

    But speaking on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, the lawmaker representing Kogi West cited Order 43 to submit that the police had either released the suspects or killed them.

    He, then, asked the police to produce the suspects dead or alive or he would sue their boss, Ibrahim Idris, for intimidation, abuse of power, harassment and mental assault.

    The police had on 20 March paraded the suspects allegedly working for Melaye.

    They were arrested with two AK-47 and five pump action guns.

    The suspects were scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.

  • Just in: Two suspects allegedly armed by Melaye flee Police custody

    Two suspects earlier paraded by the police for illegal possession of firearms allegedly supplied by Senator Dino Melaye have escaped from custody.

    The suspects were detained by the Kogi State Police Command in Lokoja, the state capital, while investigations into their allegations continue.

    Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ali Janga, who confirmed the jailbreak to reporters on Wednesday, said the suspects and four others escaped from custody in the early hours of the day.

    The fleeing suspects are Kabiru Seidu (nicknamed Osama), Nuhu Salisu (nicknamed Small), Aliyu Isa, Adams Suleiman, Emmanuel Audu and Musa Mohammed.

    Mr Janga consequently declared as wanted, Senator Melaye and one Mohammed Audu as well as the suspects on the run.

    He also told reporters that the police officers on duty when the jailbreak occurred have also been detained for questioning.

    The two suspects were paraded by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, on March 19 who said they were part of an armed gang terrorising residents of the state.

    Moshood said the suspects were arrested with a cache of arms which they claimed had been supplied to them by Senator Melaye, the lawmaker representing Kogi West.

    Senator Melaye has since denied the allegations which he described as an attempt to silence him.

  • Recall: Melaye to know fate April 29

    …as recall process commences on Tuesday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed a timetable for the recall of senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District on the floor of the Senate, Dino Melaye.

    Recall that thousands of constituents of the senator in Kogi State last year signed a petition to commence the recall. However, court cases instituted by the lawmaker meant INEC had to suspend the recall process.

    The electoral commission, however, got the permission to proceed with the recall following a ruling of the Court of Appeal.

    “Pursuant to the judgment of the court of appeal, Abuja division, delivered on 16 March 2018, the Independent National Electoral Commission thereby issues these timetable and schedule of activities for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Kogi State,” the commission said in a statement.

    “The process will begin on 27 March 2018, with the posting of the notice of verification at the commission’s local government area LGA office in Lokoja, Kogi State and end with the declaration of the outcome of the verification on 29th April 2018.”

    The embattled senator has blamed the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for his ordeal, a charge the latter denies. Both men are members of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress, but are political adversaries.

  • Withdrawal of policemen from VIPs: ‘I’m the target…IG wants me killed’ – Melaye

    Possession of firearms: Police allegations laughable

    Senator Dino Melaye has described as preposterous and laughable, the allegations by the police that he hired two political thugs and armed them to cause mayhem in Kogi State, while stressing that the order demanding withdrawal of policemen from Very Important Persons, VIPS is targeted at him.

    The police in Lokoja said they have charged the senator with illegal possession of firearms in a case filed in a Lokoja court on 16 March.

    Charged along with the senator were another politician, Muhammed Audu , said to be on the run and two other ‘deadly’ persons linked with a spate of kidnapping and robbery.

    One of the two suspects was identified as a 31 year-old Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama. T
    The other was Nuhu Salisu, who is 25 years-old,

    The duo were arrested in January. Police claimed they had confessed that they were also working as thugs for Senator Melaye.

    “Fabricated lies by Kogi State Govt and the police will fail. It’s utterly laughable and preposterous. It’s a sign of desperation”, the embattled Senator tweeted today.

    “No amount of lies and blackmail will detract my attention from speaking the truth and defending it”, he said.

    Melaye also claimed that the withdrawal of police from VIPs, announced by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, was targeted at him.

    “I am the target. IG wants to expose me so I can be killed. Having survived assassination attempt twice, I deserve police protection in a country where I’m a tax payer”, he wrote.

    At a press conference in Lokoja today, the police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, said the police seized from the thugs and their gang members , two AK47 rifles, five pump action guns, two locally made pistols and heaps of charms.

    According to the police, the men not only confessed to have been involved in several kidnappings in the state and environs, they also claimed to be hired thugs for politicians.

    “According to the gang leader, Osama, he has been working as a political thug for one Alhaji Mohammed Audu a Politician in the State.

    ” He said Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport road, Abuja inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s Car in the month of December, 2017.

    “The suspect further confessed that Sen. Dino Melaye told him that they should start working for the Senator as his political thugs and they should recruit and train more other(sic) thugs to work for him in preparation toward 2019 General election to enable him ( Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and disorganised Kogi State.

    The police said Osama further confessed that Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the N430,000.00 to share with his boys.

    “Consequent on the indictments and criminal confessions against Senator Dino Melaye by the principal suspect KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS”, Nigeria Police Force, wrote a letter dated 2nd of March, 2018 addressed to the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria informing and requesting him to release Senator Dino Melaye to report to Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command on the 7th March, 2018 to answer to criminal offences levelled against him, to enable the Police carry out a discreet investigation into the confessions of the principal suspect against Senator Dino Melaye. But Senator Dino Melaye have refused to honour the Police invitation till date.

  • Just in: Appeal Court orders continuation of Melaye’s recall

    The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed an appeal by Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, challenging the validity of the process of his recall embarked upon by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
    The unanimous judgment of a three-man panel of the appeal court also dismissed the suit which Melaye had filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the validity of the recall process.
    With the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of the suit, the preconditions earlier given by the Federal High Court in Abuja for INEC to fulfill before continuing the recall had been set aside.
    The appeal court’s judgment has therefore paved the way for INEC to continue the recall process which had been stalled since June 23, 2017 when Melaye commenced the suit.
    The court ruled that contrary to Melaye’s contention, the 90 days provided by the 1999 Constitution for the recall process to be concluded had not run out but had been paused since July 6, 2017, when Justice Tsoho of the Federal High Court made an order halting the process.
    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja, to whom the case was later reassigned, had in his judgment delivered on September 11, 2017, dismissed Melaye’s suit, but gave a pre-condition for INEC to continue with the recall exercise.
    As the pre-condition for the process to continue INEC, ordered the electoral body to serve the senator with the recall petition and the accompanying documents, including the signatures of the about one-half of the constituents calling for his (Melaye’s) recall.
    But Melaye had appealed against the Federal High Court’s judgment.
    But delivering the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal on Friday, Justice Tunde Awotoye, substantially affirmed the judgment of Justice Dimgba but held that the Federal High Court ought not to have heard the case as the suit did not disclose any cause of action against INEC.

  • Kogi Gov. arming militia groups ahead of 2019, says Melaye

    Senator Dino Melaye has again alleged that militia groups are being armed in his state.

    Melaye who raised a point of order on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, accused Governor Bello of arming militia groups in the state.

    He also claimed that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), recently intercepted military hardwares, allegedly imported into the country by Kogi State Government, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Melaye listed “sewn military camouflages with bola hats, many bullet proof vests, night vision googles, tactical boots, tactical knapsacks, training canvas, boxing gloves, among others,” as part of the items recovered.

    The lawmaker claimed that one Mr. Jerry Omadara, security adviser to Kogi State Governor, has admitted that the seized items belong to the Government of Kogi State.

    “Upon seizure of these items, one Jerry Omadara, who is the security adviser to governor of Kogi state went to the Customs officers and told them that the items belonged to the Kogi State Government and even gave them his complimentary card.

    “These items are with NACO at the airport here in Abuja. I thereby move that the committee constituted this morning to move to the airport to make sure that these items are there and not moved and properly investigated. I said before that militias are being equipped by the Kogi State Government,” Melaye alleged.

    Meanwhile, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has warned politicians in the country to call their supporters to order ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    “If we destroy this country, all of us will suffer it. So we need to do whatever possible we can to ensure that we keep the waters of democracy clean. The issue of violence may not help any person. Let us believe this will not be the true fact, but because it has been raised, I think it is Important for avoidance of doubt to ensure that we look into this to be able to know what is true and what is not true in the circumstance,” Ekweremadu said.

    In the meantime, Ekweremadu has announced the membership of the committee to investigate an alleged attack on Senator Ahmed Ogembe in Okene, Kogi State.

    James Manager of Delta South was appointed to head the committee. Others appointed into the committee which was announced by Ekweremadu are Jeremiah Useni, Isah Hamman Misau, Kabiru Marafa, Solomon Olamilekan, Matthew Urhoride and Chukwuka Utazi.

  • Melaye beats SARS, escapes arrest after being granted bail

    Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, yesterday beats anti-robbery police officers, escapes an attempt to arrest him at a high court in Maitama, Abuja.

    The federal government had earlier arraigned Melaye for allegedly framing up Edward Onoja, chief of staff of Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state.

    The senator was accused of deliberately giving false information to the police that Onoja was involved in an attempt to assassinate him.

    But the court granted him bail in the sum of N100,000.

    The judge, Olasumbo Goodluck, granted Mr. Melaye bail for N100,000 and asked him to produce a surety in the civil service who is on salary grade not lower than level 14.

    The judge declined to strike out any of the paragraphs in the charge sheet until the court begins the proper trial.

    “The facts relate to the substance of the information before this court, hence it will be preemptive of this court to make any pronouncement on the fact contained in the Paragraph 20, as it may ultimately affect the decision of the court in the substantive determination of the charges before this court,” she said.

    “More importantly, the court is of the view that the fact contained in the paragraph are not relevant for the consideration over the application of bail,” she said.

    She then adjourned to March 16 and 17 for continuation of trial.

    The seige

    However, operatives of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) were said to have prevented him from leaving the court premises after he was granted bail.

    According to reports, armed operatives were said to be on on guard, waiting to arrest him.

    Confirming the siege by the security operatives, Melaye tweeted that he had been prevented from leaving. He alleged that Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, was after him.

    The escape

    After being trapped inside the court for several hours, Mr. Melaye’s moment of escape according to a source who spoke to TheNewsGuru on anonymity grounds finally came through some of his colleagues who were with him in the court for solidarity reasons.

    “Mr. Melaye managed to sneaked out to a waiting sports utility vehicle [Hyundai] and driven away without suspicion from the security aides. The SUV had a senate number plate.”