I Am Still In Nigeria, I Have No Reason To Flee – Dino Melaye

By Adoga Michael Oyi


senator representing Kogi west senatorial district Dino Melaye, on Sunday said he did not flee from the country because of the allegations levelled against him by the Nigeria police.
Besides, the lawmaker said he had not received any court summon based on the allegation, stating he had no reason to run away from Nigeria.
This is coming just as the Nigeria Police threatened to obtain a warrant of arrest on Melaye and declare him wanted over his failure to appear in court when the case came up for hearing.
However, Melaye in a statement reacting to the claim by an online news medium, SaharaReporters, said, “I did not flee Nigeria and have no reason to flee my country leaving behind my family as the online paper wants Nigerians to believe. My attention was drawn to their lies this night, hence this public statement, lest the unsuspecting members of the public and my supporters believe the lies.
“The lies in the SaharaReporters’ so-called news report is nothing but to cause serious disharmony in the Senate and among united majority Senators, who are resolute in defending democracy and its institutions no matter whose ox is gored.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I have not received any court summon either in person or by proxy in my house or office for me to appear on March 28 as being insinuated by the Police regarding the latest allegation against me.
“Last Monday’s stage-managed parade of crime suspects in Lokoja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, where a suspect was tutored to implicate me is just a continuation and expansion of the Police attempt to have me arrested at all cost and ultimately kill me.
“It is worrisome that the Police Headquarters has gotten itself entangled in the Kogi political crisis and has taken a side. It is however bizarre and unprecedented that the FPRO, Mr Moshood, will have to travel to Lokoja last Monday in order to act a script written by Governor Bello. A discerning mind will ask that how many times has Mr Moshood travel to Sokoto, Enugu or Lagos to parade suspects on behalf of a Police Commissioner?”
Melaye also explained that he had taken up the issue with the international community, claiming that the Nigeria Police had a sinister motive in the matter.
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“It has become expedient for me to issue this statement to the public and to let you know that I have taken the matter up with the international community in order to report this undue intimidation and harassment.
“Let me reiterate here for the umpteen times that no amount of intimidation, blackmail, arrests or threats will stop me from championing the cause of the masses,” said the senator.
But the police in a statement by Moshood claimed all efforts to make Melaye come to court and fave the charges brought against him had proved abortive.
The FPRO said, “As we speak, Sen Dino Melaye despite the letter sent to the Senate President as mentioned refused to honour Police invitation till date and also refused to appear in court and has also continued to evade the service of criminal summon on him to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja on the 28th of March, 2018 to answer to the charge of Criminal Conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms against him and Mohammed Audu.

“The Nigeria Police Force is, therefore, using this medium to advise Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu in their interest to comply with the order of the court and appear on 28th of March 2018 before Federal High Court, Lokoja to answer to the criminal charges against them.
“If they continue to be evasive and fail to comply with criminal summon issued on them by the Federal High Court, Lokoja to appear on March 28, 2018 to answer to the criminal charges of conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms against them, the Force, will obtain warrant of arrest for the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu and will definitely declare them wanted throughout the country and on INTERPOL platform for them to be arrested in any country where ever they are sighted and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for continuation of their trial.”