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Tag: Melaye

  • I can’t work with Dino Melaye – Gov. Yahaya Bello

    The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has said he cannot work with Senator Dino Melaye, the lawmaker representing Kogi West district in the National Assembly, because their ideologies for joining politics are different.

    This was stated by Kingsley Fanwo, the Director-General of Media and Publicity to the Governor while responding to claims by the Senator challenging Bello to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to the state to commission projects.

    From earlier reports, it will be recalled that Melaye had claimed that the Governor is yet to initiate and complete any project since assuming power more than three years ago.

    However, a statement by Fanwo at the weekend stated that while Governor Bello is in politics to develop the state, Melaye’s intention for coming into politics is to allegedly share money and blackmail others.

    He said, “On Dino Melaye, we always try to avoid giving him undue attention. The ideologies are different. Yahaya Bello is in politics to develop, Melaye is in politics to share and blackmail.

    “So, there is a very sharp difference between the two of them and that is why it is difficult for the two of them to work together because the ideologies are quite different.”

    He, however, appealed to Melaye not to plunge the state into crisis with his governorship ambition.

    “Now that Melaye said he wants to be governor and he is campaigning, I hope he will give peace a chance and not throw our state into crisis because as a government, we have invested so much insecurity and whenever there is crisis, it always leads to a reversal of the gains we’ve recorded in the area of security of lives of our people,” he said.

  • Court orders Saraki, Melaye, Murray-Bruce to honour Police invitation

    Court orders Saraki, Melaye, Murray-Bruce to honour Police invitation

    The Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Sen. Dino Melaye and Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce to honour the Police invitation of Oct. 5, 2018 in connection with the protest staged by members of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

    Justice Okon Abang gave the order on Thursday while delivering judgment in a fundamental human rights suit filed by the trio alleging intimidation, harassment and threat by the police.

    “It is my view that the police invitation to the applicants is still valid and subsisting; the applicants shall respond or report to the police invitation without fail.

    “It is how the police treat them upon their having honoured the application that would determine whether their fundamental rights was violated not before they honour the invitation,” the judge said.

    The judge held that even though the applicants were not on trial, where there were allegations against them, they had an obligation to report to the police upon been invited.

    He insisted that the court could not restrain the police from discharging its duties as long as it was done within the confines of the law.

    According to the judge, the suit of the applicants lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed with a cost of N50,000 awarded in favour of the police.

    The trio had filed an application asking the court to nullify the Oct. 6 and 8, 2018 letters of invitation to them by the Police.

    They claimed that the Police invitation was an attempt to harass, intimidate and unlawfully detain them.

    The senators also asked the court to declare that the act of dispersing their procession with tear gas was a violation of their fundamental rights, and asked the court to award N500 million to them as damages.

    The three senators were part of the PDP leaders who led a protest on Oct. 5, 2018 asking the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections.

    The protest was sequel to the Osun governorship election which was declared to have been won by the All Progressives Congress.

    They carried placards which read; “Police is an arm of APC, we demand free and fair elections amongst other inscriptions.

    They were on their way to the Force Headquarters when policemen dispersed them with teargas.

    The police stated that the applicants and about 100 hoodlums riotously blocked Shehu Shagari way preventing motorist and other road users going about their lawful duties for several hours.

    They further claimed that they forcefully attempted to enter into the Police Headquarters and became totally hostile.

    They also said that they rushed violently in an attempt to force their way into the force headquarters to cause damage to police equipment and government property.

    The police said they were warned to disperse but they refused and the police had to use the minimal force allowed by law to disperse them.

  • Attempted suicide: Sen. Melaye docked, granted N5m bail

    Attempted suicide: Sen. Melaye docked, granted N5m bail

    Sen. Dino Melaye was on Tuesday docked before an FCT High Court, Apo area of Abuja on a six-count charge, bordering on attempted suicide and attempt to escape from custody.

    Melaye, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, was also charged of damage to police property.

    The senator however, denied committing the offences preferred against him.

    Justice Sylvanus Oriji said that he was aware that the court had granted bail to the defendant when he was arraigned before him on July 25, 2018 on the same charges.

    Oriji said that the earlier bail conditions, which included the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum were still valid and should be sustained in the current charges.

    In the earlier bail condition, Melaye was to produce two sureties who must be directors in the civil service, reside in the FCT, and depose to affidavits of means.

    The prosecuting counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on April 24.

    He said the defendant, while being conveyed in a police vehicle to Lokoja, allegedly forced his way out of the vehicle and attempted to escape.

    Izinyon said that the defendant held a substance in his hand and threatened to drink it to kill himself so that he would put the police officers in trouble.

    The prosecutor also said that the defendant broke the glass of the vehicle with his elbow and caused damage to police property.

    He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code.

    The counsel to the defendant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was, however, not in court.

    The judge adjourned the case until April 5, for hearing.

  • Keyamo, Melaye clash over Buhari’s ballot snatching statement

    The Director, Strategic Communication of President Muhammadu Buhari, Festus Keyamo and Senator Dino Melaya of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday clashed over the President’s statement on punishment meant for those who snatch ballot boxes.

    At a political discussion on Channels Television, Keyamo said the President merely justified the position of the law, which outlines punishment for those who used forceful means to dispossess of 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 boxes, so why is the PDP making issues out of it.”

    Responding, Melaye said the President 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 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 civilized country, where there should be decorum. It is so appalling that such a statement emanated from the President. And instead of apologizing, the APC is trying to justify the statement of the President.”

  • ‘Show why you are detaining Melaye,’ court orders police

    ‘Show why you are detaining Melaye,’ court orders police

    The police were on Thursday ordered by an Abuja High Court sitting in Maitama to show cause over it’s continued detention of Senator Dino Melaye.

    Melaye, who represents Kogi West in the National Assembly, who has been in police custody since January 4, approached the court for enforcement of his fundamental right.

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    Justice Yusuf Halilu gave the order after Melaye’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) informed the court that his client has been in police custody since January 4 against what the law stipulated.

    “We are talking about the liberty of a citizen not because he is a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but a citizen. This is contrary to sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of Nigeria.

    “If you keep a man for 13 days, you have already presumed him guilty, ” he submitted.

    Simon Lough, the respondent counsel, told the court that he only got the motion on notice on January 16, and needed five days according to law to reply.

    He added that he was not aware of the order to show cause.

    He said though Melaye was in the police custody, he as the counsel does not have the power to determine his investigation, which was ongoing, preparatory to charging him to court.

    Lough, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him to file and serve his reply before January 18.

    The judge explained that the police was put on notice to come and show cause why the detained senator should not be granted bail.

    “The court was approached by the police for his custody and the court granted it, and now the court ordered that the police should come and explain why he would not be released.

    “I granted an order on January 14, that the police should come and show cause,’’ the judge said.

    He, however, adjourned hearing till January 18, to enable the respondent file his reply on the applicant.

    Both parties agreed to the application for adjournment prayed by the respondent.

    The respondent was also ordered to serve the applicant all the processes on Thursday (today).

  • Police move Melaye from DSS facility to SARS office

    Police move Melaye from DSS facility to SARS office

    The police have moved senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, to the federal special anti-robbery squad office in Guzape district, Abuja.

    The police transferred the senator from their hospital to a Department of State Services health facility on Friday for treatment after he complained that he was not getting better.

    But the police hospital had certified him fit for trial.

    An associate of the embattled senator on Saturday confirmed the development. “They moved him to SARS office in Guzape. The police moved him without any word. We don’t know what they want to do now,” he said.

    He said the next action of the police was unknown.

    Recall that last week, the senator surrendered to the police following an eight-day siege laid to his Abuja residence.

    The police accused Melaye of culpable homicide and alleged that his supporters shot one Danjuma Saliu, a police officer, in Kogi state on July 19.

    Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said they had a warrant to keep Melaye for 14 days.

    “The police investigation team obtained a 14-day remand warrant from the Federal Capital Territory high court on January 9, 2019, to keep Senator Dino Melaye in police custody for investigation into the case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide against him till January 23, 2019,” Moshood said.

  • PHOTO: Melaye dumped on floor outside DSS medical facility

    PHOTO: Melaye dumped on floor outside DSS medical facility

    Senator Dino Melaye, the federal lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was allegedly abandoned on the floor outside a medical facility belonging to the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Recall TheNewsGuru had earlier reported that some masked police officers were said to have forcefully whisked Senator Melaye away from his hospital bed at a police medical facility in Abuja and driven in an unmarked vehicle to an undisclosed location on Friday.

    But emerging reports indicate that the police may have driven the federal lawmaker to the DSS medical facility in Abuja where he was said to have refused admission.

  • Police speak on evacuation of Melaye from hospital bed

    Police speak on evacuation of Melaye from hospital bed

    The Nigeria Police Force on Monday said the temporary relocation of Senator Dino Melaye to the medical facility of the Department of State Security (DSS) on Friday was part of preliminary arrangements for his coming trial in Lokoja, Kogi State.

    Police spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, an acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, stated that Melaye was taken by policemen to the medical facility of the DSS and not their cell or detention facilities.

    He said despite claims by the embattled Senator, the police medical team has been unable to find anything to confirm he has any infirmity that could delay his trial in Lokoja.

    “On the 9th of January, 2019 we got a High Court Remand Warrant to keep him in police custody for fourteen days.

    “The police medical team at our facility examined him and concluded that he was okay to stand trial but he is insisting that he is not okay; that is why we are taking him to another government hospital.

    “He has been taken to the DSS hospital and he will be returned to us after their medical examination because he does not have any case with SSS.

    “He only a case with the police and we are going to take him to court within the period covered by the Remand Warrant.

    “He will be taken to court within the period because the Remand Warrant is from an FCT High court, which gives us the permission to keep him in police custody for 14 days.

    “He was only taken to their (SSS) hospital; he is not in their custody.

    “Our people have examined him and we want another government hospital to also examine him and give a medical opinion.”

    While promising to issue an official statement later on Friday night, the police spokesman also dismissed claims Melaye was taken away from police medical facilities by masked men.

     

  • BREAKING: Masked policemen invade clinic, whisk away Melaye

    BREAKING: Masked policemen invade clinic, whisk away Melaye

    Masked persons suspected to be policemen have reportedly stormed the Police Clinic in Garki, Abuja, whisking away embattled Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye.

    He was believed to have been taken to Lokoja, Kogi State, for interrogation over the alleged shooting of one Sgt. Danjuma Aliu by suspected political thugs.

    A close associate of the Kogi senator confirmed the development.

    Our correspondent learnt that the evacuation of the lawmaker was carried out around 2:15 pm Friday in commando style.

    Melaye, who has been having a running battle with the Force, was rushed to the clinic for medical attention after he slumped last Friday.

    Before he was moved to the clinic after slumping, the lawmaker had barricaded himself in his house in Maitama, Abuja, for eight days, vowing never to give himself up for arrest.

    The Force PPRO at Force Headquarters, Abuja, Jimoh Moshood,is yet to react react to the latest development.

    Details later…

  • Alleged homicide: ‘Sick’ Melaye, Police argue over fitness for trial in Kogi [Photos]

    Alleged homicide: ‘Sick’ Melaye, Police argue over fitness for trial in Kogi [Photos]

    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.

    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.