Six days into the police lockdown of the residence of the representative of Kogi West Senatorial District, Mr. Dino Melaye, the senate said it had taken legal steps to end the police siege to the lawmaker’s Abuja home.
The senate which took the decision yesterday believes that the action would save the embarrassing situation and ensure freedom for senator.
Speaking on the matter, the senate minority leader, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi said the upper legislative house would not leave Melaye high and dry.She alleged that the inspector general of police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris had frustrated every effort by the senate to gain access to Melaye.
“We don’t want to be lawless that is why we are taking steps to see how we could handle the matter legally.
“The senator cannot run away; his passport has been seized by the police. Whatever it was that they want to arrest him for happened since July 2018.
“If he didn’t run away between July and now, he can’t run away. I felt very disgusted when I got to his house…and I discovered that there were over 12 police vans and more than 22 policemen there, seeking the arrest of one man.
“I wonder why they should do that when they can easily ask me as the senate minority leader to produce him on a particular day and at a particular place. It is only if I fail to do so that they can issue a warrant for his arrest,” said Olujimi in an interview with Punch.
The police who stated that they would not vacate the senator’s residence until he is arrested said the senator was wanted for alleged “criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, committed on 19th July, 2018.”
He is alleged to have shot one Sergeant Danjuma Saliu attached to 37 Police Mobile Force while on official duty along Aiyetoro Gbede- Mopa road in Kogi State.
It was gathered that the police cut off power and water supplies to Melaye’s house as a strategy to cause him discomfort and make him surrende for arrest.
It was also gathered that the police had deployed over 50 additional personnel to lay siege to the house.
Meanwhile, the senator who spoke from hiding said he would not give himself in stating that his hiding from arrest and investigation is an act of wisdom and not cowardice.
Melaye also alleged that the police were planning to break his doors and vandalise his house and forcefully arrest him.
He said the police had toolboxes brought by a police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) van, with which they intend to break down his doors.
“Police bringing in tool boxes to break doors and vandalize my house. Police EOD truck just brought them,” said the senator in his official twitter handle @dinomelaye.
Melaye who compared his challenges to that of the biblical Prophet Elijah further tweeted: “The Bible records prophet Elijah to be among one of the strongest prophets that lived, but he went to mount Carmel to hide when King Ahab sought him to kill him because of the way he boldly declared the truth. There is a difference between being scared and being wise.”
