The Nigeria Police Force has explained why it has been seeking the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye, who represented Kogi West in the Senate, over allegations of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide.
The explanation came in a statement issued by the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, January 4, 2019, shortly after Melaye surrendered to the police investigation team at his Abuja residence.
According to the police, Melaye was wanted in connection with an alleged attack on police personnel in Kogi State on July 19, 2018.
The Force alleged that Melaye and armed associates attacked police officers conducting a stop-and-search operation along the Aiyetoro-Gbede-Mopa Road in Kogi State, during which Sergeant Danjuma Saliu was allegedly shot and wounded.
The police said the officer had yet to fully recover from the gunshot injury and remained under intensive medical care.
The Force further explained that its investigation team arrived at Melaye’s Abuja residence on December 28, 2018, with a warrant of arrest obtained in connection with the case.
According to the police, Melaye allegedly locked himself inside the building after sighting the officers, thereby preventing them from effecting his arrest.
The police said the warrant was obtained after Melaye allegedly failed to honour an earlier invitation issued by the Kogi State Police Command.
The invitation, dated July 23, 2018 and signed by the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, requested that Melaye report to the Command’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) in Lokoja on July 26 to answer questions concerning the allegations under investigation.
The Force said its investigation team subsequently remained at Melaye’s residence for eight days, awaiting his surrender.
During the standoff, the police said Melaye granted a television interview in which he stated that he was not in Abuja.
The Force, however, said the claim was later found to be untrue, noting that the senator eventually surrendered to the police team waiting at his residence.
Following his surrender, the police said Melaye was taken into custody for investigation and subsequently taken to the Police Hospital in Abuja for medical attention.
The Force Public Relations Officer, then Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Jimoh Moshood, said Melaye was in stable condition and that investigation into the allegations was ongoing.
The police added that the case would be taken to court after the completion of its investigation.
Melaye has previously denied wrongdoing in relation to the allegations.
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