Court rejects Melaye’s request to order police out of his residence

A federal high court in Abuja has refused to grant the request of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi central, to order police out of his residence.

Some police officers have been at Melaye’s residence in Abuja since Friday in an attempt to arrest him over alleged culpable homicide.

He is accused of attacking some police personnel alongside armed thugs.

The senator approached the court with an application seeking the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

In an ex-parte motion filed through his counsel on Thursday, he argued that the siege is a threat to his life and urged the court to order the policemen out of his residence.

But N Maha, the presiding judge, refused to grant the motion, instead, ruled that the human rights enforcement suit should be given accelerated hearing.

Melaye’s whereabout has remained unknown since the commencement of the siege at his residence, which enters day six on Thursday.

The police have said they will not leave the premises until he is arrested.

WHAT WAS HIS CRIME?

The police said the senator’s “armed thugs” attacked Danjuma Saliu, a police officer, in Kogi state on July 19.

Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman, had said the senator refused to honour an invitation sent to him through the clerk of the national assembly.

The senator already has two previous cases with the police: alleged gun running and attempted suicide.