Police charge Melaye with illegal possession of firearms (updated)

Police say Mohammed, son of the late Abubakar Audu, a former governor of Kogi state, has fled to avoid being charged with “illegal possession of firearms” alongside Dino Melaye, lawmaker representing Kogi west senatorial district.

But TheCable can report that Audu is in his house in Abuja and is yet to be invited or contacted by the police.

At a press conference on Monday, Jimoh Moshood, force public relations officer, said a case of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms have been filed against Melaye at a federal high court, Lokoja, the state capital.

He said the police filed the action following the confession of two “dreaded” thugs who claimed they were working for Melaye.

“The men were arrested on 19 January at Ogojueje in Dekina local government area of Kogi state, after a shootout with the police and have confessed being hired by Melaye, to cause mayhem in the state,” he said.

“One of the persons arrested was identified as 31 years-old Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama. The other was Nuhu Salisu, who is 25 years-old. The third person charged to court was identified as Alhaji Muhammed Audu, a politician, who is now said to be at large.

“Two AK47 rifles, five pump action guns, two locally made pistols and heaps of charms were seized from the thugs and their gang members.”

According to the police, the men not only confessed to be involved in several kidnappings in the state and environs, they also claimed to be hired thugs for politicians.

“According to the gang leader, Osama, he has been working as a political thug for one Alhaji Mohammed Audu a politician in the state,” Moshood said.

“He said Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met inside Senator Melaye’s car parked on Airport road, Abuja, in the month of December 2017.

“The suspect further confessed that Audu told him that they should start working as political thugs of the senator and they should recruit and train more other(sic) thugs to work for him in preparation toward 2019 general election to enable him ( Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and disorganise Kogi state.”

The police spokesman said Osama confessed that Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two pump action guns and the N430,000.00 to share with his boys.