Dino Melaye: Ozekhome to lead legal fireworks for lawmaker’s freedom

Following the aftermath of the eight days of hide-and-seek game between Sen. Dino Melaye and the police, who had surrounded his Maitama residence.

The Kogi West Senator who finally showed up, and presented himself to the police in Abuja had earlier proved defiant and vowed never to report to the police, willingly came out of hiding, received the trio of Senator Murray Ben Bruce, Senator Atai idoko and House of Representatives member from Rivers State, Boma Goodhead, who had come to his house in company with his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome.

The lawmakers, who are strong supporters of Dino, apparently convinced him to report to the police given the weighty allegation of culpable homicide levelled against him by the force and find a way to prove them wrong, especially with the presence of Ozekhome, a senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.

A source present at the time of the incident, confirmed to Vanguard that no fewer than 50 policemen followed Dino and his colleagues, who drove the Senator in their private vehicle to the Police Headquarters in Abuja with a view to meeting the Inspector General of Police. However, as Dino and his friends arrived the IGP’s office in Louis Edet House, they were told that he was unavailable and that they should rather report to the Federal Special Armed Robbery Squad, FSARS, in Guzape, near Asokoro. Meanwhile, as a detachment of policemen was leaving Dino’s house to follow him to the dreaded FSARS, no fewer than 30 others laden in seven trucks, took strategic positions on Sangha Street where Dino’s home is and the adjourning areas.

Dino, who likens himself to the Biblical Elijah, had earlier vowed not to honour the police invitation, alleging that the police authorities had perfected plots to inject him to death and stall his political journey. An aide to Dino, Bode Gbadebo, confirmed that as at the time of filing the report, his boss was still with FSARS, but said he did not know whether he would be released on Friday or not.

It will be recalled that the detachment of policemen had stormed Dino’s residence since December 28, 2018, vowing not to vacate the premises until the embattled lawmaker made turn in himself. The alleged that some supporters in the convoy of Senator Dino shot and fatally wounded a police Sergeant who was on a stop-and-search duty and that he must answer to the alleged crime, which might likely keep him out for long if arrested.

(Credit: Vanguard)