Dino Melaye, Senator representing Kogi West in the Nigerian senate, has denied fleeing Nigeria shortly after the Nigerian Police threatened to declare him wanted and place him on Interpol watchlist if he fails to appear in court on March 28.
Debunking claims by Sahara reporters that he fled the country, Dino Melaye revealed in his tweets that there are plans to kill him even though he is in Nigeria, attending functions across states.
His tweets reads;
Those who know me will never believe the lies of Sahara Reporters about calling some senators. I’m in Nigeria and been attending social function across states. I have committed no offense so why should I run? They are after my life but God is my muscle.
1) I have not received and summons from any court. And I have not placed any obstacles to make it impossible to serve me. I’m a law abiding citizen. Why is the police carrying out the job of the courts? Why is the PPRO force HQ addressing the press Twice in one week bc of Dino?
2) Why did he have to go to Kogi to parade suspects? How many times has he gone to sokoto,Enugu or Ibadan to parade suspects? This is more than meet the eye. There is a plan to kill me. You can’t beat me and ask me not to cry. Above all God is Supreme. SDM
I’m not the 1st to suffer for speaking the truth. Many have died defending the truth. I will never be intimidated or harassed to shut up,I won’t. if I die in the process so be it. My name is Daniel,I will not eat the Kings porridge. SDM
The Nigerian Police’s statement on Senator Dino Melaye refusing to honor their invitation, reads in part;
It will be recalled that consequent on the confession of criminal offences indicting Senator Dino Melaye by the principal suspect KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS”, The Nigeria Police Force, sent a letter of investigation activities/invitation dated 2nd March, 2018 addressed to the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria informing and requesting him to release Senator Dino Melaye to report to Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command on the 7th March, 2018 to answer to criminal offences of Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms levelled against him, this is to enable the Police Investigation Team carryout a discreet and thorough investigation into the case.
But Senator Dino Melaye refused to honour the Police invitation. Based on evidence gathered so far in the matter, a case of Criminal Conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms was filed by the Nigeria Police Force at Federal High Court Lokoja on 16th March, 2018 against the two principal suspects (i) KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA (ii) NUHU SALISU a.k.a SMALL “25 YRS”, Senator Dino Melaye and Alh. Mohammed Audu. But Senator Dino Melaye and Alh. Mohammed Audu refused to appear in court on Tuesday, 20th March, 2018 when the trial supposed to commence. This prompted the court to issue a criminal summon on Senator Dino Melaye and Alh. Mohammed Audu to appear in court on Wednesday, 28th March, 2018.
As we speak, Sen. Dino Melaye despite the letter sent to the Senate President as mentioned in Paragraph 5 above, 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 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 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 28th March, 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.
