Senator Dino Melaye has been reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen on his way to Kogi from Abuja. Senator, Ben Murray Bruce, said in a tweet that Melaye was abducted by unknown gunmen .
Another report said armed men attacked Senator Dino Melaye in Gwagwalada on his way to Lokoja this morning. Melaye who is to appear before the magistrate court sitting in Lokoja today in a case of alleged arms running was attacked by armed men who were reported to have blocked his way in a Government Hilox and a Sienna bus. As we speak, his whereabout is yet unknown.
I have just been informed by Moses Melaye, @dino_melaye’s brother, that Dino has been abducted by unknown persons in a Toyota Sienna that blocked their car and overpowered them on their way to Kogi to answer to Dino’s court case. Lets be on the watch out. Will keep you updated.
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) July 26, 2018
Yesterday Senator Dino Melaye was arraigned before the Abuja High Court sitting in Apo by the police and was granted bail in the sum of N5 million. The lawmaker was arraigned on a six count charge of attempted suicide, escape from custody and damage of police property. The prosecution counsel, Mr. Alex Izinyonu, said Melaye escaped from police custody on April 24, 2018, after he broke the glass on the second window of a bus belonging to the Police, using his left elbow.
The lawmaker was said to have jumped into a waiting vehicle, an action which the police say amounted to an offence punishable under section 327 of the Penal Code Law. He explained that the defendant while being conveyed in a police vehicle to Lokoja, forced his way out of the bus and escaped. Melaye, who represents Kogi West senatorial zone, denied committing the offences. The trial judge, Justice Silvanus Oriji granted him bail in the sum of N5 million.
Oriji also ordered Melaye to produce two sureties in like sum, as part of the bail condition. The judge also ordered that the sureties must be directors in the civil service, who are resident in the FCT, and depose to affidavits of means. Senator Melaye is among the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators that recently defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
