Melaye to spend five weeks in police custody as court denies him bail

A magistrate court in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, refused to grant bail to Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, on Thursday.

Suleiman Abdulahi, the magistrate, had denied the bail application filed by Mike Ozekhome, Melaye’s counsel.

The lawmaker was charged with conspiracy and aiding of jail break.

Quoting section 97 of the Kogi state administration of criminal justice, Ozekhome argued that the offence of conspiracy is bailable.

But Abdullahi ruled that Melaye would remain in custody till June 11.

The police had declared Melaye wanted after he shunned their invitation over a gun running case.Two suspects had accused him of supplying guns to them, an allegation he denied.

Two weeks ago, officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service detained him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport and prevented him from going on a trip to Morocco.

Melaye returned home after that but the police laid a siege to his Abuja residence some moments later.

He surrendered to the police after 24 hours and he was being taken to Lokoja for trial when he jumped out of a police vehicle, sustaining injuries in the process.

He was taken to a private hospital  but the police moved him to National Hospital. After a week there, he was arraigned at a magistrate court in Abuja and charged with attempted suicide, escape from lawful custody, and causing damage to government property.

Melaye was granted a N90 million bail but he was re-arrested and brought to Lokoja on Thursday.

Before the police took him to court, the senator was taken to the SARS headquarters near the NTA office in Lokoja.

Around 9;17am, Melaye arrived the court in a Toyota Hiace police ambulance bus with registration number NPF2214D.

Before his arrival, heavily armed policemen took positions within and outside the court premises.

Journalists and other persons that had seated in court for hours were all asked to go out for security checks.

At the end, only few were allowed inside.