After initial hanky-panky and drama, the embattled lawmaker representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye, recently arrested and arraigned for attempted culpable homicide has been granted bail on health grounds by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. Melaye, who is accused along with others for allegedly shooting one Sgt. Danjuma Aliu, regained freedom on the premise that he could not be arraigned on the stretcher or on his hospital bed.
One undeniable fact is that for more than two years now Senator Melaye has exhibited conduct and theatrics that fall grossly short of the status of lawmakers in the Red Chambers.
His penchant for regular online video cast, boisterous contributions on the floor of the Senate, evasion of service, snubbing police invitations have in no way ennobled the National Assembly. It beats the imagination that the lawmaker has shown record evasion of service on many occasions, adopting some ludicrous actions that showed disregard for law and institutions that represent them.
The hallowed chamber of the Senate is a melting pot for matured, distinguished lawmakers who dignify their office with their conduct and utterances. It goes without saying that a lawmaker should not only be willing to obey the laws he participates in making, but must by his conduct and action be manifestly exemplary.
Though Melaye claimed to be in possession of evidence that his life was in danger in the hands of the police and transducers in his state, the honourable thing expected of him after making such disclosure through his counsel was to have reported to police to clear himself of all allegations against him – as did by former Governor Ayo Fayose the very day he left office.
However, if Melaye’s actions were most uncharitable, the entire episode from the eight-day siege laid to his Maitama residence by about 50 policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad office, Guzape, Abuja, till the recent development calls to question the legality and morality of police operations and procedure as well as their motif in these orchestrated police and legal proceedings against the senator.
The eight-day siege whereby the police cut off his water and power supply after it had duly obtained warrant of arrest was unnecessary. With a valid warrant, the police are legally empowered to break into the premises, especially having tracked his calls and ascertained his presence in the apartment. Equally intriguing is the flurry of suits, more than three, instituted by the police in Kogi and Federal Capital Territory against the senator after the botched efforts to recall him from the National Assembly in April last year.
He is accused of illegal possession of arms, gun running and sponsoring hoodlums in Kogi State, apart from a six-count charge, bordering on attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage of police property. Also, on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, the Police Force dragged Melaye to an Abuja Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2, on a stretcher and appeared to be unconscious just as he was when he was rushed to a hospital in the capital city.
In the suit (CR/106/18) filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on January 31, 2018, Melaye was accused of falsely incriminating Kogi’s Governor Yahaya Bello’s Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja as well as making false statement in regards to the attempted assassination.
The same Melaye is accused of unlawful possession of firearms following the arrest of Kabiru Saidu and Nuhu Salisu in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi on January 19, 2018.
The police claimed the duo confessed that Melaye hired them to cause unrest in the state ahead of the 2019 general election, empowering with one AK-47 rifle, two pump action guns and the sum of N430,000 to recruit “hardened troublemakers and unleash mayhem in Kogi State.” By provisions of laws of the land, these are weighty allegations, but the suspects remain innocent until proven guilty by court of competent jurisdiction.
Without dwelling on the details of the cases or culpability or otherwise of Melaye, it is curious that just a single individual could be so enmeshed in several crises and litigations simultaneously, even with showmanship.
Public officers must show respect for the law of the land, and dragging a senator and indeed any suspect on the floor in the full national television does not fall within such, otherwise anarchy will overshadow decency.
The police also need to come out clear that their actions in these matters are inquisitorial and without biases, and persuade Nigerians that they operated with a high degree of professionalism. Indeed, the activities of these Federal SARS who laid siege to Melaye’s residence and carried out Gestapo operations require serious retooling if Nigeria policemen must operate with decency and decorum like their counterparts around the world.
We strongly recommend the inclusion of these among the vestiges of unacceptable practices which must be flushed out by the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, if the force must regain public confidence and Nigeria’s democracy and respect for rule of law must be sustained
