Dino Melaye opens up on fleeing Nigeria over police threat

The senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye, has denied fleeing the country over threat by the Nigeria Police to declare him wanted.

The lawmaker said he had not received any court summon based on the allegation, stating that he had no reason to run away from Nigeria.

The Police had on Saturday threatened to declare Melaye and Alhaji Mohammed Audu wanted if they failed to comply with the court’s order.

The development, reports suggested, forced the Kogi lawmaker to flee the country.

However, Melaye in a statement reacting to the claim by an online news medium said he was very much around and had no reason to leave his own country where he pays his tax.

He said, “I did not flee Nigeria and have no reason to flee my country leaving behind my family as the online paper wants Nigerians to believe. My attention was drawn to their lies this night, hence this public statement, lest the unsuspecting members of the public and my supporters believe the lies.

“The lies in the SaharaReporters’ so-called news report is nothing but to cause serious disharmony in the Senate and among united majority Senators, who are resolute in defending democracy and its institutions no matter whose ox is gored.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I have not received any court summon either in person or by proxy in my house or office for me to appear on March 28 as being insinuated by the Police regarding the latest allegation against me.

“Last Monday’s stage-managed parade of crime suspects in Lokoja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, where a suspect was tutored to implicate me is just a continuation and expansion of the Police attempt to have me arrested at all cost and ultimately kill me.

“It is worrisome that the Police Headquarters has gotten itself entangled in the Kogi political crisis and has taken a side. It is however bizarre and unprecedented that the FPRO, Mr Moshood, will have to travel to Lokoja last Monday in order to act a script written by Governor Bello. A discerning mind will ask that how many times has Mr Moshood travel to Sokoto, Enugu or Lagos to parade suspects on behalf of a Police Commissioner?”

“It has become expedient for me to issue this statement to the public and to let you know that I have taken the matter up with the international community in order to report this undue intimidation and harassment.

“Let me reiterate here for the umpteen time that no amount of intimidation, blackmail, arrests or threats will stop me from championing the cause of the masses,” said the Senator.