Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, yesterday beats anti-robbery police officers on Thursday night escaped an attempt to arrest him at a high court in Maitama, Abuja.
Recall that Senator Melaye had been arraigned earlier in the day for allegedly framing up Edward Onoja, the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state.
The Senator was accused of deliberately giving false information to the police that Onoja was involved in an attempt to assassinate him.
But the court granted him bail in the sum of N100,000.
The judge, Olasumbo Goodluck, granted Mr. Melaye bail for N100,000 and asked him to produce a surety in the civil service who is on salary grade not lower than level 14.
The judge declined to strike out any of the paragraphs in the charge sheet until the court begins the proper trial.
“The facts relate to the substance of the information before this court, hence it will be pre-emptive of this court to make any pronouncement on the fact contained in the Paragraph 20, as it may ultimately affect the decision of the court in the substantive determination of the charges before this court,” she said.
“More importantly, the court is of the view that the fact contained in the paragraph are not relevant for the consideration over the application of bail,” she said.
She then adjourned to March 16 and 17 for continuation of trial.
In the meantime, following information that operatives of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) were hanging around to arrest him if he comes out of the court, Melaye declined leaving the court premises after he was granted bail.
Confirming the siege by the security operatives, Melaye tweeted that he had been prevented from leaving. He alleged that Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, was after him.
After being trapped inside the court for several hours, Mr. Melaye’s moment of escape according to a source finally came through some of his colleagues who were with him in the court for solidarity reasons.
Melaye was said to have sneaked out of the court building was still surrounded by SARS officers, into a waiting sports utility vehicle [Hyundai] and driven away without suspicion from the security aides. The SUV had a senate number plate.
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