A Lokoja High Court has issued an interim order to the police to move the embattled senator representing Kogi West constituency, Dino Melaye back to the National Hospital, Abuja for medical attention.
The order came following the refusal of Senior Magistrate Sulyman Abdullah of a Magistrate’s Court in Lokoja to grant him bail but remanded him in police custody.
Melaye and two others are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of fire arms.
The chief justice of Kogi State, Justice Nadir Ajanah, who presided over today’s proceedings, said in view of the critical health conditions as espoused by the counsel to the applicant, he should be moved to the National Hospital, Abuja, for proper medical attention.
The judge also adjourned till Monday, May 7, for continuation of hearing in a written bail application filed by Melaye’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, asking for a variation of the remand order placed on the senator.
Ozekhome had told the court that Melaye was a chronic asthmatic patient who gasped for breath on Thursday while being arraigned and had to be given his special inhaler right there in the courtroom and in the presence of the trial magistrate, Abdullah.
He urged the court to recognise the fact that as a senator of the Federal Republic, Melaye would not abdicate his legislative duties and jump bail.
“Apart from this, his passport and other travel documents are in the possession of the police, which makes it impossible to leave the country,” Ozekhome added.
