TheNewsGuru

Tag: Melaye

  • 2019: Melaye attacks Buhari over NASS comment, says ‘it is unpresidential’

    Lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye on Thursday criticized President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement insisting that some lawmakers were being paid for doing nothing.

    The lawmaker resumed at the Senate plenary on Thursday and maintained his seat at the Peoples Democratic Party row in the chamber, despite being an All Progressives Congress member.

    Melaye also raised a point of order to describe President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent comments against the National Assembly and its members, saying it is “not presidential.”

    He noted that the President’s body language towards the National Assembly was the reason why the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and heads of ministries, departments and agencies often refuse to answer invitations by the lawmakers.

    ‎The President had, on Tuesday, attacked the National Assembly members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving members of the Buhari Support Organisation led by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.).

    He said, “Let anybody come and confront me publicly in the National Assembly. What have they been doing? Some of them have been there for 10 years. What have they been doing?”

    Melaye, however, described Buhari’s comments as “un-presidential and derogatory.” ‎He also faulted Ali for leading an electoral campaign for the President’s re-election, even as a public officer.

    The lawmaker stressed that comptroller-general is a rank, and that any occupant of the office should be in uniform.

    President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, ruled that the lawmakers would not allow political activities by public officials.

  • Failing Health: Court adjourns Melaye’s case indefinitely

    Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of FCT High Court, Maitama, on Thursday adjourned indefinitely the trial of Senator Dino Melaye, being tried for allegedly giving false information.

    Melaye, representing Kogi West, was dragged to court on two counts bordering on giving false information, offences he denied committing.

    Recall that the judge, on Wednesday, adjourned until May 17, and ordered the defence counsel to take appropriate steps to explain the absence of the defendant in court.

    Goodluck, in her ruling on Thursday on a motion for adjournment by Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN), Melaye’s counsel, held that the prosecution did not doubt the health problem of the senator.

    “From the gamut of the entire facts placed before the court, the prosecution did not controvert the fact that the defendant was in the National Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.’’

    The judge, therefore, adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely) pending the recovery of the senator from his illness.

    Earlier, Tarfa, in an application to justify the senator’s absence, informed the court that his client was still lying critically ill at the National Hospital.

    He tendered a medical report, signed by one Dr. Olaniran, Director of Medical Services at the National Hospital, Abuja, which confirmed that the senator was being managed at the ICU.

    Tarfa urged the judge to consider the ill health of the lawmaker as a special circumstance that warranted his absence from trial.

    He urged the court to adjourn the trial pending the time his client would recuperate from the sickness, and be able to stand before the court to answer the two counts against him.

    Responding, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Magaji Labaran, urged the court to discountenance the exhibits attached to the defendant’s affidavit, as they did not meet the requirements of the Law.

    He added that the elements in the medical reports did not indicate that the defendant cannot come to court to stand trial.

  • Court strikes out Melaye’s assassination attempt case

    A Kogi High Court on Tuesday struck out the assassination case involving the chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Taofiq Isa, and four others for want of diligent prosecution

    Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) had in April 2017, approached the court alleging an assassination attempt on his life by Taofiq Isa and four others.

    Others standing trial alongside Isa are: Ade Obege, Abdullahi Isah, Michael Bamidele and Ahmed Ajayi.

    In his ruling, Justice Fola Ajayi, said his decision to strike out the case was premised on the fact that the prosecution had failed to open its case in spite of four adjournments.

    Ajayi said that the failure of the prosecution left him no choice but to strike out the case in the circumstance.

    He, however, gave a consequential order that the prosecution could start their case afresh whenever they were ready.

    Justice Ajayi was particularly irked by the prosecution when they insisted that the case file was not available to them but with the lead counsel, ACP Lough Simon who was absent on account of the death of his father.

    Ajayi said that the prosecution had presented same excuse on four previous adjournents and granted them and 45-minute stand down to enable the prosecution get the case file but failed.

    Recall that the suspects; Isa, Obege, Isah, Bamidele and Ajayi are standing trial for alleged conspiracy to murder the senator.

    They were said to have while acting in concert and armed with guns invaded the resident of the senator on April 14, 2017 and fired guns severally at the house and rooms while Melaye, his family and security aides were in the house.

    The defendants in the case No. HCL/58c/2017 between the Inspector General of Police and Alhaji Taofiq Isah and four others were arraigned on a five-count charge of conspiracy to commit culpable homicide punishable with death.

    They were also alleged to have committed the offence of abetment contrary to section 83 and punishable under Section 91 of the Penal Code.

    The prosecution alleged that Isah authorised, during the attack, the use of the ambulance of General Hospital, Iyara, for the operation to kill Melaye and his household.

    Other offences include causing wrongful damage to the properties contrary to section 326 and punishable under section 327 of the penal code as well as possession of firearms without licence contrary to section 27(1)(a) of the Fire Arms Act CAP F28 LFN 2004.

  • Court adjourns hearing on Melaye’s bail application

    The trial judge in the bail application of the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has reserved judgement till 16th May, 2018.

    Justice Nasir Ajana adjourned after listening to arguments from both the prosecuting counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN) and the defense counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

    Earlier, the prosecuting counsel had told the trial judge not to grant the bail application, as the defendant had been certified fit to stand trial.

    He filed a counter affidavit to the effect that Melaye had made an attempt to escape by jumping out of the Police van taking him to Lokoja.

    Ozekhome, in his response, said that the senator managed to run away from the scene after being tear-gassed; adding that someone who wanted to escape justice would either run to his village or any other place where he will not be easily reached; but in Melaye’s case, he ended up in National Hospital, Abuja.

    Iziyon also argued that he did not believe for one minute that the senator was being treated in any hospital, saying that Melaye only feigned an ailment after he attempted to escape when being taken to Lokoja.

    He argued that the defense counsel had not been able to prove that the alleged ailment was beyond the responsibility of the prison.

    He said that there were medical facilities that could adequately take care of the defendant since it has not been proved that the so-called ailment requires specialist attention that cannot be provided by the prison authorities.

    The defence counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), submitted that the prosecuting counsel got it all wrong, arguing that the Constitution allows a high court judge to administer an applicant to bail.

    However, the judge held that both parties should agree on where Melaye will be held.

    Ozekhome noted that they were in the court on the issue of bail, arguing that there were medical reports from the National Hospital, Abuja, confirming his client’s asthmatic conditions, and injuries in the spines and on the legs.

    “His being transferred to intensive care unit of the National hospital from Police clinic was also a pointer to the fact that they recognised the dangerous condition he was in, as he was not taken to a hotels or a VIP lodge to relax, but to the National Hospital, Abuja,” Melaye’s counsel said.

    “They have not also denied the fact that he suffered an attack right there before the senior magistrate and had to be given his inhaler to stabilise his condition.

    “They have not put forward any documentary evidence to oppose the ones tendered before the court as regards his dangerous health conditions,” Ozekhome submitted.

  • Melaye: Saraki, Dogara report Police IG to Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

    The meeting was held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja shortly after Buhari returned from his weekend trip to his hometown, Daura in Katsina State.

    At the end of the meeting, Saraki and Dogara told State House correspondents that they reported the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to the President over his handling of the case involving Senator Dino Melaye and his disdain for the National Assembly.

    They also said the meeting which was at the instance of the President discussed the issue of the 2018 Appropriation Bill still before the National Assembly, the recent invasion of the Senate during which the mace was taken away and the fallouts or Buhari’s recent visit to the United States of America during which he met the US President, Donald Trump.

    They, however, said the issue of the impeachment process being contemplated in the National Assembly over Buhari’s approval for the payment of $496m for fighter jets before he sought the approval of the Federal lawmakers was not discussed at the meeting.

    “We came on the invitation of Mr. President. He wanted to brief us on his trip to the United States and also the issue of the budget.

    “We also talked on the issue of concerns to us: the invasion of the National Assembly, which he showed great concern and he said action will be taken to investigate that,” Saraki said.

    When asked when the budget will be ready, Saraki said, “Hopefully, it should be laid this week. If it can be laid this week and passed early next week. We are hoping it will be laid this week.”

    Saraki said the President saw the invasion of the Senate as an embarrassment to the country and promised that the incident would be properly investigated because it was not just about the National Assembly but about the country.

    When asked what was being done to improve the relationship between the executive and the legislature, Saraki said the National Assembly had always been ready to support the Executive.

    “Our being here was the initiative of Mr. President to brief us on his visit to America and to engage in discussions and I think that is a good sign.

    “We, at the National Assembly, have always been ready to give all our support to the executive and we will continue to work along those lines.

    “As I said, the presidential system that we operate, we sometimes have the responsibility to check the excesses of the executive. So, there will always be times we will disagree but by and large, we will always work for the interest of Nigerians and always keep on moving on,” he said.

  • Court fixes date for hearing on Melaye’s bail application

    The Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, Monday adjourned hearing for the hearing of the bail application of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), to (Thursday) May 10, 2018.

    This followed the inability of parties to submit their counter affidavit and “better” affidavit to the written bail application by Melaye’s counsel, when Justice Nasir Ajanah, last Friday, ordered that the lawmaker be transferred to the National Hospital Abuja.

    The prosecution led by Dr Alex Iziyon (SAN), readied a counter affidavit to the written application for bail by Chief Mike Ezekhome (SAN), Melaye’s counsel, to which the latter had sought the court’s permission to file a “better” affidavit to the counter affidavit by the prosecution.

    Ajanah was to ask that a new date be picked to allow for the examination of written affidavits, none of which had been filed, as at the time of the sitting.

    The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Ajanah had adjourned for the continuation of hearing in the written bail application filled by the defense counsel, asking for variation of the remand order placed in Senator Melaye.

    This followed last Thursday’s refusal to grant bail to the lawmaker, when he was arraigned before the Senior Magistrate Court 2, sitting in Lokoja on a seven-count charge bothering on criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of fire arms.

    Ajanah had said that in view of the critical health conditions as espoused by the counsel to the applicant, he should be moved to the National Hospital, Abuja for proper medical attention.

  • JUST IN: Court orders Melaye moved to National Hospital

    A Kogi State High Court has ordered that the senator representing Kogi West be moved to the National Hospital, Abuja.

    The trial judge also adjourned till Monday, 7th, May for continuation of hearing in a written bail application filed by Melaye’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, asking for a variation of the remand order placed on him.

    This followed the refusal to grant bail to Dino Melaye on Thursday when he was hauled before a Senior Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lokoja, on seven counts bordering on criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of fire arms.

    The Chief justice of Kogi State, Justice Nadir Ajanah, who presided over the proceedings on Friday, said that in view of the critical health conditions as espoused by the counsel to the applicant, he should be moved to the National Hospital, Abuja, for proper medical attention.

    Earlier, counsel to the defendant, Mike Ozekhome, had argued that Senator Dino Melaye was a chronic asthmatic patient who gasped for breath on Thursday while being arraigned and had to be given his special inhaler right there in the courtroom and in the presence of the trial magistrate, Sulyman Abdalah.

    In an interview after the order, Ozekhome said that the judge was convinced beyond all reasonable doubts that the Police Clinic facilities in Lokoja could not meet the medical needs of Senator Dino Melaye.

    “He also recognised the fact that as a senator of the Federal Republic, Dino cannot abandon his legislative duties and jump bail.

    “Apart from this, his passport and other travel documents are in the possession of the Police, which makes it impossible to leave the country,” Ozekhome added.

  • We spent only N100m on Melaye’s recall – INEC

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, says only N100m was spent on the failed attempt to recall Kogi-West lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye.

    The INEC chairman said this while responding to a question posed by this reporter at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

    Yakubu said the figure was nowhere near the N1bn being bandied by the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He said a recall exercise is just like conducting a Senatorial election, adding that Kogi-West which Melaye represents, has 552 polling units and seven local governments.

    The INEC boss said ad hoc staff were deployed in all the polling units.

  • [Video] Dino Melaye marked for death by Buhari’s men – Asari Dokubo

    Asari Dokubo, ex-militant leader has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari has marked Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye for death.

    Dokubo claimed that Buhari arranged with the police to push the lawmaker out of a moving van.

    Recall that Melaye was alleged to have jumped off a moving police van in Abuja conveying him to Lokoja to face criminal charges.

    However, the ex-militant leader, wondered how the lawmaker could have jumped off the van with security operatives present and the doors locked.

    In a video he posted in his Facebook, Dokubo said, “People are happy with what is happening to Dino Melaye, saying he deserves it.

    “Yes he does but if Melaye, who was one of the most vociferous and loquacious personalities in Buhari’s campaign that brought this evil on us can be treated this way by throwing him out of a moving vehicle, then it can happen to any one of us.

    “Buhari wanted to kill Melaye by throwing him off a bus, if not, how was it possible for Melaye to have jumped off a Hiace bus with police officers.

    “In a Hiace bus, there are two seats in the front and four rolls of seats behind. In one of the role Melaye was seating there were armed police men and it was locked, how did Melaye jumped off?

    “Was there a transfiguration or a Dino Melaye’s rapture?

    “You know he has being singing some religious songs, may be he was in the spirit and was raptured and only to find himself on the ground outside the bus.

    “People don’t ask questions, Buhari thinks that because he is the captain of ‘Dundy United’ we all are fans and players of this his club.

    “The conclusion we can get from all this was that Dino Melaye was marked to be killed.”

    Watch video…

    ;

  • BREAKING: Dino Melaye Arrives Kogi In Ambulance

    BREAKING: Dino Melaye Arrives Kogi In Ambulance

    The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has arrived Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

    Melaye was conveyed in an ambulance by the police authorities and is due to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja later today.

    The Senator who is presently at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in the north-central state is under the guard of armed policemen.

    According to the police, Melaye is being arraigned for an alleged criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody.

    Melaye’s arraignment in court today follows his discharge from the National Hospital after he was confirmed fit for trial.

    The Senator landed in the National Hospital after he jumped out of a moving police vehicle on April 24 while being conveyed to Kogi State.