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The lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has been remanded in prison till June 11, 2018.
Sen. Melaye was ordered to be remanded in prison by a Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State.
This followed his arraignment on charges of gun running by the police, in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
Melaye is Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Recall that the Senator was earlier in the day moved in an ambulance to Kogi State.
How it all started…
The past two weeks have been full of ups and downs for the embattled senator. From his arrest at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in Abuja to allegedly jumping from a moving vehicle, his admission in a national hospital, arraignment and subsequent rearrest, the senator has seen it all, funny enough on a sick bed.
TheNewsGuru.com captures some of the trying moments of the embattled senator.
His Arrest
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Senator was on Monday, April 23 arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his way to Morocco on an official assignment.
Speaking later in an interview, Melaye pictured detailed analysis of the arrest. In his words: “My self and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and others were to be on an official trip to Morocco but while some have gone through the Lagos airport today, others are to depart tomorrow.“I got to this airport I was checked in and was already in the lounge waiting for departure. Immigration officers invited me that there is a directive from the police that I can’t travel; that I am on their watch list. And I said it was not true, that the INTERPOL said they had not issue an alert on me. I opened INTERPOL’s website and showed them the denial. But they insisted that it was based on the directive from the police.
“I was disembarked and asked me to go to their office (at the airport). They snatched my passport but I snatched my thing back from them. I got it back! I’m still here with them. They circled me and said they were waiting for further instructions from the police.”
Melaye’s arrest based on ‘instructions’ – NIS
Confirming Melaye’s arrest later that day (Monday, April 23), the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS said his (Melaye’s) arrest was based on ‘instructions.’
Spokesman of the Service, Mr Sunday James, told the newsmen that Melaye was arrested by Immigration officials “based on instruction”.
Melaye released
The senator was however later released that same day (April 23). His colleague, Shehu Sani confirmed his release in a tweet.
Police invade Melaye’s Abuja home
Despite officially releasing the embattled senator (on Monday, April 23), the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (numbering about 30, according to the Senator) later besieged his Abuja residence that same day.
The senator raised the alarm in a tweet: “Over 30 heavily armed fierce looking mobile policemen have just stormed My residence in Maitama, Abuja.
“All roads leading to House has been cordoned off, as heavy mobile policemen blocked entry & exit of the road. They currently laid siege on in and around The house,” he tweeted.
Why we invaded Melaye’s home – Police
The Police on Monday (April 23) explained why it laid siege to the Abuja residence of Sen. Dino Melaye.
“Our action was prompted by the fact that he was invited in a case of unlawful possession of firearms and other crimes.
“You know when a case is in court, there is no law that stops you from further questioning if you need to answer question on the suspects.
“There is no law that stops the police from further inviting him or asking question about the case,” the Force Deputy Spokesman, Adeniran Aremu stated on Monday.
Melaye re-arrested, moved to SARS headquarters
The embattled senator was, however, rearrested on Tuesday and moved to the headquarters of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Melaye jumps off moving police vehicle
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) made moves to evacuate the embattled senator, Dino Melaye to Lokoja, Kogi State to commence his alleged gun running trial.
However, the senator played a faster one on the police as he allegedly jumped off a moving police van. He was however said to have sustained serious degree of injuries.
Melaye, after jumping off the moving police vehicle, ran into a nearby bush but was given a hot chase re-arrested by the police operatives conveying him.
Earlier this week, the embattled senator survived a recall process allegedly initiated against him by agents of the state government.
How it all started…