The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district at the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has been brought before an FCT High Court in Apo area of Abuja on a six-count bordering on attempted suicide and attempt to escape from custody.

Melaye, however, has denied committing the offences preferred against him.

 

 

Justice Sylvanus Oriji, who was presiding over the case 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 added 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.

 

 

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.

 

 

It would be recalled that Melaye, earlier in the year had a run in with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force after he resisted arrest and the police camped out at his house for a week before he eventually surrendered to the police after intervention from his colleagues at the senate.

Meanwhile, Melaye has just won a re-election bid to represent his senatorial district for the second term in the red chambers.

Melaye was declared winner of the Kogi West Senatorial election held on Feb. 23.

 

 

The Senator who contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated his close rival, Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Returning Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Bala announced the result in Lokoja that Melaye polled 85, 395 votes to defeat Sen. Smart Adeyemi of the APC who scored 66, 901 votes.

Kogi West Senatorial District which comprises seven LGAs namely Lokoja, Kogi/Koton Karfe, Kabba/Bunu
Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West saw Dino winning 6 LGA’s out of 7.

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