ABUJA-MEN of the Nigeria Police force have taken over the house of the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West.
Speaking with Vanguard some seconds ago in a very lone tune , Senator Melaye said, ” the Police have taken over my house.”
Melaye
It will be recalled that Senator Melaye was this morning arrested by the Police at the International wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport.
Senator Melaye was picked at the airport on his way to Morocco for an official engagement sponsored by the Federal Government after checking in.
Melaye wrote on his Facebook account, saying, ” I have just been arrested at the International wing of of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport on my way to Morocco for an official engagement sponsored by the Federal Government after checking in.”
When Vanguard contacted his Senior Legislative Aide, Samuel Melaye, he said, ” Iam on my way to the Airport now, I cannot say anything now, but I will get back to you.”
Meanwhile, Senator Melaye, who was arrested by immigration officials has escaped moves by the police to secure his arrest.
It was gathered that Melaye was picked up and detained by immigration officials at the airport, following a directive to that effect by the Nigeria Police Force.
Also gathered that the immigration officials told Melaye that the Police Force had written the service requesting for his arrest as he was not allowed to travel out of the country since his name was on the watch list.
At this point, the lawmaker was said to have challenged the officials demanding to know at what point his name was published as a wanted person on INTERPOL’s watchlist.
Unable to provide answers to Melaye’s question, the immigration officials nevertheless kept Melaye in detention awaiting the arrival of the police force that gave the directive for his arrest.
But in between the time of Melaye’s arrest and detention by immigration officials, the attention of INTERPOL’s Commissioner of Police was sought in a bid to solicit his immediate intervention, just as before the police chief could arrive at the international airport, a vehicle was already on standby and whisked the lawmaker away to an unknown destination.
We shall bring you details as they unfold.…
Recall that the federal government dragged the senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, to court on a two-count charge for alleged false information.
Mr. Melaye last April reported an alleged assassination attempt on his life while he was in his home state of Kogi.
The senator and the Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, are members of the same party, APC, but are sworn enemies.
79 2' Kogi State Governor, H. E. Yahaya BELLO Mr. Melaye had accused the Kogi governor and his aides of being responsible for the alleged assassination attempt. In the first count charge filed against him, Mr. Melaye was accused of deliberately giving false information to the police to frame the Chief of Staff to Mr. Bello, Edward David, as the mastermind of the assassination attempt on him at his hometown in Ayetoro-Gbede, Kogi State, last April.
In the second count, Mr. Melaye was accused of making false statement of facts in a phone conversation with Mohammed Abubakar, a son to the late former Governor of Kogi State, Abubakar Audu, with the intention of harming the reputation of Mr. David.
The case was filed through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on January 31, Punch Newspaper reports.
According to the charges signed by Magaji Labaran, the police discovered the alleged falsehood in Mr. Melaye’s claim while investigating the senator’s assassination claim.
The offences were said to be punishable under sections 140 and 393 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
Mr. Melaye could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report.
However, when the Senator was addressing women of his senatorial district, who embarked on a peaceful protest at Aiyetoro-Gbede days after the alleged assassination attempt, senator Melaye claimed that Governor Bello was planning to assassinate him for fighting for the state’s workers and pensioners.
The senator said workers and pensioners in Kogi were suffering and dying, following the non-payment of 15-month salaries and pensions by the state government.
“Yahaya Bello collected N20 billion from the federal government as bailout fund. Still, he refused to settle workers. He also collected N11 billion from the Paris Club fund. Still, he refused to pay workers and pensioners.
“Children can no longer go to school. Tenants can no longer pay their house rent. Enough is enough, the people of Kogi State are tired of this government.
“The advent of Yahaya Bello as governor and Taofiq Isa as local government administrator in the political history of Kogi State has brought this unfortunate socio-political paradigm shift,” Mr. Melaye said.
