NEWS: Police Cut Power Supply To Dino Melaye's House

• Policemen have disconnected the building from the national grid with the view to rendering the home inhabitable.

Dino Melaye

As the hide-and-seek game between Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi Central District in the National Assembly, and the Nigerian Police Force continues at his residence in Abuja, SaharaReporters can authoritatively report that the power supply to the lawmaker's house has been cut off by the security operatives, who have been keeping vigil at the house.

The Police had invaded Melaye's house on Friday, over allegations he was culpable in the shooting of a police officer in July 2018.

The Police had also insisted that its officers would wait at the house until the lawmaker surrenders himself.

According to a source, policemen have disconnected the building from the national grid with the view to rendering the home inhabitable.

Speaking on the incident via phone call on Friday, the lawmaker had said he would not be intimidated by the pressure and promised to honour the Police invitation as soon as he arrives Abuja.

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NEWS: Melaye Loses Assassination Case Against ALGON Chairman

Fola Ajayi, the judge presiding over the case, struck it out for lack of diligent prosecution even after four adjuornments since it was initiated in 2017.

Senator Dino Melaye, the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, has lost his assasination case against Mr. Taofiq Isa, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, as the High Court in the state struck out his case on Tuesday.

Fola Ajayi, the judge presiding over the case, struck it out for lack of diligent prosecution even after four adjuornments since it was initiated in 2017.

Ruling on the matter, the trial judge held that the prosecution counsel could not open his case despite four adjournments, hence he struck out the matter.

He then ordered the prosecution to start the case afresh whenever they are ready.

Mr. Zakari Abbas commended the trial judge for the judgement while reacting to the ruling."The charge brought against the defendants have been struck out," he said. "As it stands, there is no criminal charges against the defendants. However, he gave a consequential order that whenever they are ready with their witnesses, they could approach the court to start their case afresh.”

Melaye is currently in court over charges bordering on gunrunning. 

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CRIME: SENATOR 'DINO ME-LYING’: Sick In Court, Healthy On Twitter

• Whichever is the case, Melaye’s supposed ill-health as basis for his inability to defend himself in court has been exposed by his obsession with the social media. Can a man be healthy on Twitter yet sick in court?

Dino Melaye

There is no question many Nigerians are following the Dino Melaye-Police-moving-vehicle-hospital-court saga; it’s arguably the longest-running soap opera in the political space in 2018. But is anyone watching Melaye’s Twitter activity?

Summary of the drama

Melaye was arrested by the police on April 24 on allegations of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, after some crime suspects reportedly told the police he was their chief supplier of arms. However, he jumped out of the moving vehicle with which the police were conveying him to a Lokoja court, eventually landing at the Zankili Medical Center, Mabuchi, Abuja.

Jimoh Moshood, spokesman of the Force, would later lead at least 30 armed policemen to the medical centre to arrest the Kogi West senator, who was eventually transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja, before having his day at an Abuja magistrate court.

He was granted bail in the sum of N90million and two sureties by the court, only to be immediately rearrested by the Police for onward transfer to Kogi State to answer to fresh charges orginally not covered by his initial arraignment.

A magistrate court in Lokoja denied him bail, instead ordering his remandment in prison till June 11 — a massive five weeks.

‘Dying man’ in court

The Police must have thought getting Melaye to court was drama over, but the soap that kicked off with his flight off a moving vehicle had only just begun: each time Melaye appeared in court, it was on a stretcher off an ambulance, eyes closed, arms stationary, body frame motionless — like a dying man.

It looked like a strategy destined to work — until he was betrayed by a good news. As Melaye was supposedly dying on hospital bed, his recall process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) flopped. The much-publicised campaigne to ‘impeach’ him had not just failed but it did spectacularly: of the 189,870 signatories to the recall petition, only 18,742 (5.34 percent of the 351,146 registered voters) were verified by INEC, whereas at least 175, 573 (50 percent) were required.

Boisterous man on Twitter

An elated Melaye couldn’t resist the temptation of rushing to Twitter to have a sly dig at his political traducers.

“Every lie has an expiry date. Forces of evil will never triumph over forces of light. God is with us,” he tweeted. “Thank you my people. God bless you all. Thank you for the confidence reposed on me. I will not let you down. I will always stand by the truth and the people at all times. God bless Kogi West.”

That was no problem at all. Only that when he reappeared in court three days later, he was again motionless. Melaye’s supporters would readily argue that his Twitter account was being managed by a third party but the response to the failed recall was issued in First Person Singular — meaning Melaye was either talking directly on the social media platform, or the ‘tweeter’ had spoken with Melaye before making those statements on his behalf.

Whichever is the case, Melaye’s supposed ill-health as basis for his inability to defend himself in court has been exposed by his obsession with the social media. Can a man be healthy on Twitter yet sick in court?

Not possible!

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BREAKING NEWS: Melaye To Spend Five Weeks In Police Custody

• Melaye was arraigned for alleged gunrunning at the Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on May 3

Senator Dino Melaye in Abuja Court

Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, will be remanded in custody of the Nigerian Police Force till June 11, 2018, after losing his appeal for bail.

Melaye was arraigned for alleged gunrunning at the Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on May 3.

The senator was brought into the court premises in a police ambulance.

Sahara Reporters had earlier reported that Melaye was arraigned before the Chief Magistrates Court, Wuse, Abuja, for criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody.

He was granted bail for N90 million but was baited with hospital only to be rearrested to immediately face other criminal charges against him.

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BREAKING NEWS: How Suspected Assassins Linked To Dino Melaye Escaped From Police Custody

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• The escape of six suspected criminals linked to Dino Melaye, a Senator representing Kogi West was allegedly planned and coordinated with the aid of some Nigeria Police officers at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lokoja,  police sources told Saharareporters.

Senator Dino Melaye

The escape of six suspected criminals linked to Dino Melaye, a Senator representing Kogi West was allegedly planned and coordinated with the aid of some Nigeria Police officers at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lokoja,  police sources told Saharareporters.

The six suspects; Kabiru Seidu a.k.a Osama, Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small, Aliyu Isa, Adams Suleiman, Emmanuel Audu and Musa Mohammed escaped from ‘A’ Division of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) detention in Lokoja, Kogi State’s Capital, where they were being held pending their court appearance with Mr. Melaye who was also been declared wanted by the police.

Kabiru and Salisu had earlier confessed to working for Melaye.

The Police said the two suspects linked to the Senator were arrested on January 19 at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, after a shootout.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said; “According to the gang leader, Osama, he had been working as a political thug for Alhaji Mohammed Audu.

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

“The suspect further confessed that Sen. Dino Melaye told him that they should start working for him as his political thugs and they should recruit and train other thugs to work for him in preparation for the 2019 general elections to enable him ( Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and disorganize Kogi State.”

The Senator also allegedly gave them guns and money to recruit more thugs against 2019 elections.

SaharaReporters reported the rearrest of five of the escapees on Friday, leaving out the leader of the gang, Osama, who is yet to be recaptured.

However, Police sources have told Saharareporters that the suspects were able to escape with the help of police officers who assisted them to smuggle in mobile phones used to plan and reach their allies who arranged their subsequent escape from police custody.

One of the sources told Saharareporters that the rearrested escapees were captured through a food vendor linked to the police station, she reportedly concealed mobile phone devices inside "fufu" and passed them through police guards manning the cells of the high profile criminals.

Our sources also revealed to us that Osama might likely be swooped in today as policemen on trial would make a strike tonight.

Following the escape, Melaye gave the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, a 48-hour ultimatum to recapture the suspects or risk facing court action, however, Mr. Melaye has remained eerily quiet since the jail-breaking criminals were re-arrested by the police.

Mr. Melaye was recently arraigned before an Abuja court on a two-count charge for giving false information to the police with the intent to mislead over declarations he made that some persons linked to Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello planned to assassinate him last year. The Independent National Electoral Commission is also embarking on a recall of the Senator from the Nigerian Senate.

Mr. Melaye is not new to involvement in assassinations and violence, in 2008, a United States report linked Mr. Melaye to the death of One Mr. Victor Obafaiye who was a principal witness in a petition of election malpractice filed against the Senator. 

Our sources also revealed to us that Osama might likely be swooped in today as policemen on trial would make a strike tonight.

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Senator Dino Melaye: Police Re-Arrest 5 Out Of 6 Escapee Suspects

• Nigeria Police has re-arrested five out of the six suspected criminals who escaped from Police custody in Lokoja, Kogi State on Wednesday.The suspects were linked to the Senator representing Kogi West, Mr. Dino Melaye. 

Senator Dino Melaye

Nigeria Police has re-arrested five out of the six suspected criminals who escaped from Police custody in Lokoja, Kogi State on Wednesday.

The suspects were linked to the Senator representing Kogi West, Mr. Dino Melaye. 

Two of the alleged criminals, Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama (31) and Nuhu Salisu (25 ) aka small, were arrested on January 19 at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State and they confessed to being hired by Mr. Melaye to cause mayhem in the state.

Sahara Reporters

✔@SaharaReporters

FLASH UPDATE: Four criminal gang members linked with Senator Dino Melaye @dino_melaye rearrested and are now in @PoliceNG custody

5:53 AM - Mar 30, 2018

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Osama, who, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, confessed that he had been working as a political thug for Alhaji Mohammed Audu who laterintroduced him to Senator Dino Melaye is the only suspect still on the run.

Osama told the Police that he met Melaye at Airport road, Abuja inside the Senator Melaye’s car in the month of December 2017.

“The suspect further confessed that Sen. Dino Melaye told him that they should start working for him as his political thugs and they should recruit and train other thugs to work for him in preparation for the 2019 general elections to enable him ( Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and disorganize Kogi State.

However, following the escape of the suspects from custody, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, ordered the removal of the State commissioner of police, Ali Janga.

Sources from the Police, however confirmed to this website that five out of the six suspects have been re-arrested.

Earlier this morning, SaharaReporters tweeted that two of the escapees were re-arrested, but three more have been re-arrested as at the time of filing in this story.

View image on Twitter

Sahara Reporters

✔@SaharaReporters

FLASH: @policeng has arrested 5th of the jail-breaking high profile criminals allegedly armed by Senator @dino_melaye to carry out attacks on his political opponents in Kogi

9:16 AM - Mar 30, 2018

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Police sources informed SaharaReporters that a statement would be released only when all the suspects have been re-arrested.

Mr. Melaye had earlier gave a 48 hours ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police to producer the escaped prisoners or risk being sued.

The Kogi West Senator has been enmeshed in different controversies in recent times.

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NEWS: Save Me From Recall, Dino Melaye Begs Senators

• The appeal comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission unveiled a timetable and modalities for the exercise at his Kogi West Senatorial District.

Dino Melaye

The Kogi State senator, Dino Melaye, at the Senate plenary on Tuesday rallied his colleagues to save him from being recalled by his constituents.

The appeal comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission unveiled a timetable and modalities for the exercise at his Kogi West Senatorial District.

The senator restated his claim that his recall was masterminded by his state governor, Yahaya Bello.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, assured Mr. Melaye of the upper chamber’s support, proclaiming the recall process “dead on arrival.”

Mr. Ekweremadu said the Constitution made recall a cumbersome process, and, as such, would be difficult for Mr. Melaye’s opponents to succeed.

“The Senate would also verify the legitimacy of the votes before a conclusion is made,” Mr. Ekweremadu said; although the deputy senate president’s claim is not stated in the constitutional requirement for recall.

Signatures for Mr. Melaye’s recall were collected at his constituency in an exercise that began on June 10.

Campaigners said 188,588 signatures were submitted to INEC, which is more than 52 per cent of about 260,000 voters in the constituency.

On June 22, INEC notified Mr. Melaye of the recall process. His lawyers responded with a lawsuit the next day, asking the electoral body to stay all actions relating to the exercise.

INEC, however, said it would proceed with the recall process since there was no court injunction stopping it.

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CORRUPTION: Senator Dino Melaye Panics, Hires Mike Ozekhome To Stop His Recall In Court

• Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi West Senatorial district has filed a lawsuit at the Federal high Court in Abuja seeking a court injunction to halt his recall from the Senate.

Dino Malaye

Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi West Senatorial district has filed a lawsuit at the Federal high Court in Abuja seeking a court injunction to halt his recall from the Senate.

According to SaharaReporters sources, a panic-stricken Melaye had been shopping for a judge in the last 48 hours that could grant an injunction to halt the process after word reached him that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was meeting to decide  on an appropriate response to the submission of more 188,000 signatures to their headquarters on Wednesday from his constituents who wanted him recalled from the Nigerian Senate.

    FLASH: @dino_melaye is reportedly shopping for a judge to grant an "exparte order" to halt his recall
    — Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) June 22, 2017

On Thursday INEC issued a statement notifying the public that it will be verifying the signatures on July 3rd 2017. The commission also wrote to Melaye notifying him of the official commencement of the recall exercise.

 Mr. Melaye’s lawyers today filed a 33-page legal argument seeking to obtain injunctive reliefs from the court. The application was accompanied by an affidavit of urgency filed by a staff of Mr. Ozekhome’s law firm.

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BREAKING NEWS: INEC Confirms, Acknowledges Dino Melaye Recall Petition

• In a press statement dated June 22, the electoral body announced that it would begin the process of recalling Mr. Melaye after verifying that the petitioners are registered to vote in Kogi West Senatorial District.

Dino Malaye

In a press statement dated June 22, the electoral body announced that it would begin the process of recalling Mr. Melaye after verifying that the petitioners are registered to vote in Kogi West Senatorial District.

The verification exercise will hold on July 3, 2017.

INEC stated that it has informed Mr. Melaye and the petitioners' representatives of its receipt of the petition.

Read the press statement below:

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CORRUPTION: 52.3 Percent Of Kogi West Voters Want Senator Dino Melaye Recalled

• A stunning 52.3 percent of the registered voters in Kogi West Senatorial District want their Senator, Dino Melaye, recalled from the Senate.   That percentage represents 188,588 of the 360,098 registered voters in the senatorial district. 

• The collation of signatures of voters which was undertaken over five days ended on June 17. The information was disclosed by Pius Kolawole, a special adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) announced on Monday.  

Dino Malaye

The information was disclosed by Pius Kolawole, a special adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) announced on Monday. 

Mr. Kolawole, who was speaking to party members from the district, commended the voters for turning out in good numbers for the collation, pointing out that Section 69 of the 1999 constitution authorized their decision.

“In 2015, we voted for Dino and now we are using the same method to return him home,” he said.

Giving a breakdown of the collation, the Returning Officer, Adamu Yusuf, said that in terms of the seven local governments in the district, the following numbers of registered voters are in favor of the recall:

18,374 of the 35,331 in Yagba East;
9,186, of the 18,356 in Mopa-Muro local government;
24,703 of the 46,810 in Yagba West;
63,736 of the 116,296 in Lokoja Local Government;
24,283 of the 46,819 in Ijumu Local Government;
28,277 of the 60,520 in Kabba/Bunu Local Government; and
24,703 of the 46,810 in Kogi Local Government.

He disclosed that collation will be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, for the next step in the recall process.

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Check This Out: Senator Melaye Caught On Tape Revealing How He Framed “Suspects” In His Alleged Assassination Attempt

• Senator Dino Melaye has revealed how he deliberately framed others in his alleged assassination case, using the police.

•  In yet another phone audiotape obtained exclusively by Saharareporters, he tells Muhammed Audu, the son of late former Governor of Kogi State Abubakar Audu how he used his connections with the police to frame someone referred to as "Edward" (believed to be Edward Onoja, the Chief of Staff to the current Kogi State Governor), in the alleged assassination attempt on him at his country home. 

Dino Melaeye

The Kogi State Senator reported an assassination attempt on his life at his home in Ijumu on April 15, and on April 29, the police paraded six persons, including the chairman of Ijumu Local Government area, one Taofik Isah, who were allegedly involved in the crime.
On the new audiotape, Melaye, speaking mostly in Hausa, reveals to Muhammed that the assassination story was carefully orchestrated to rope in his opponent, and how his access to the highest echelons of the police facilitated his effort to frame “Edward” in the alleged plot to assassinate him.

Only last week, SaharaReporters published another audiotape in which Senator Melaye was caught bribing Justice Akon Ikpeme of the Cross River State High Court in the election petition tribunal process which brought him to the Senate two years ago.

All the persons alleged to have participated in the assassination are currently on bail.
Pls Click On The Below Link To Watch The Conversation
https://youtu.be/1mQogu_285w

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Senator Dino Melaye Named In US State Department Report On Assassination Of Witness In Electoral Petition

In 2008, the American State Department wrote a report that focused on the 2007 murder of one Victor Obafaiye, the principal witness against Senator Dino Melaye in an electoral petition against the controversial legislator from Kogi State. 

Dino Melaye

The US State Department’s report about Mr. Obafaiye’s murder was issued on March 11, 2008 and written by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Report. The report noted that Mr. Melaye was elected into the Federal House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) filed a legal challenge disputing his election. However, Mr. Obafaiye, said to be in possession of documents that might have shown that Mr. Melaye tampered with election results, was murdered before he could testify.

“On August 19, Victor Obafaiye, the principal witness for the Action Congress in the Kogi State Election Tribunal, was assassinated. Obafaiye was crucial to the case, as he was supposedly in possession of documents that would have served as evidence of election tampering by the PDP House of Assembly [sic] candidate, Dino Melaye,” stated the US State Department report.

The report did not directly accuse Mr. Melaye of masterminding Mr. Obafaiye’s murder, but the report suggested that the State Department considered the case one of the significant instances where the use of violence undercuts the practices of electoral democracy in Nigeria.

Mr. Melaye, who was in 2015 elected to the Nigerian Senate, has since been able to visit the US, suggesting that the State Department did not have conclusive evidence tying him to the murder of Mr. Obafaiye. The senator is currently at the center of a certificate forgery scandal after this website reported that his graduation from Ahmadu Bello University was questionable as whistleblowers in the Geography Department informed us that he had not completed certain required classes. Mr. Melaye had also claimed to possess degrees from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts as well as London School of Economics, a claim both institutions denied.

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