The Police, Wednesday, released anti-corruption crusader, Dino Melaye, who was arrested after he led a protest against the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah over allegation that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority,NCAA, purchased two BMW bullet-proof cars worth N255 million for her.
This is even as a pro-Oduah group, emerged from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, located at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, with some armed hoodlums and attacked the protesters led by Melaye.
The former member of the House of Representatives, Thursday morning, said that the Commissioner of Police in FCT was very civil and exhibited professionalism in the discharge of police duties.
He said, “I was released about 5:30 pm; I was taken to the Department of Criminal Investigation, then taken back to the Commissioner of Police after keeping me for a while in the office of the Commissioner of Police (Operations).
“From there, I was moved to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (CID) and from there to the State Criminal Investigation Department; I was later transferred to CP.
“The man just said I should go. Nothing more, they didn’t ask me anything and that was all. He pleaded with me concerning the way the Area Commander treated me. I must confess that the CP in FCT was very civil and nice.”
Melaye, a former member of the House of Representatives, was picked around 12:55 pm, by a team of police men, from the FCT Police Command,led by one ASP Odukoya Sunday, in a police Hilux jeep with registration number: NPF 2128C.
His arrest came following his refusal to allow the police drive away some of the protesters which they had arrested on claims of obstruction of traffic and disturbance of public peace.
Melaye had entered his vehicle to leave the protest venue after rounding off, but when hinted that some of his supporters had been arrested by the police, he parked and rushed to the scene to plead for their release. When his pleas for the release of the protesters was rejected by the police, he then asked the driver of the Coaster Bus conveying some of the protesters not to move.
He asked the police to arrest him rather than going with the protesters, who he noted, were innocent Nigerians expressing their constitutional and fundamental rights.
Before his arrest by the police,Melaye and the protesters were fiercely confronted by the pro-Oduah group with dangerous weapons such as matchets, long knives and sticks, but the repeated pleas by Mr Melaye to his group to remain calm prevented the protest from degenerating into what could have resulted in serious injuries or possible death of some persons.
Placards, banners and hand bills bearing “Oduah must go”,”Jonathan,sack Odua over corruption”,”if it was Yar’Adua or Obasanjo, Oduah would have been sacked immediately,”were torn to shreds by the pro-Odua group.
While the protesters were chanting “Odua must go,” the pro-Odua group was chanting “Odua must stay.”
Journalists at the event were not spared by the pro-Odua group. The group attempted to seize some video camera.
Motorists, passers-by and onlookers were surprised at the turn of events given that the pro-Odua group carried dangerous weapons without any arrest or harassment by the police men.
The efforts of the hoodlums,Vanguard gathered,was aimed at frustrating the protest.
Reacting to yesterday’s incident, the Special Assistant to the Minister Mr Joe Obi said Melaye did not have the credibility to embark on a protest against his boss.
He asked: “In the first place how did Melaye realize the funds he used in purchasing the fleet of over 20 cars which are numbered serially in his name?
” Secondly, has he accounted for all the funds he collected when he was at the National Assembly?”
He continued: “Ever since he lost re-election into the National Assembly, he has been involved in this business of offering himself for hire to organize protests. He in turn hires other people who join him in embarking on his phoney protests. ”
He maintained that Melaye’s protests were never anchored on altruism
He continued: “I heard that there was some kind of disorder yesterday because he couldn’t pay those he hired to embark on the protest he led.
For now the Minister is only answerable to the National Assembly which has summoned her to come and explain the circumstances behind purchase of the two BMW security cars. The National Assembly was elected by the Nigerian people and the Minister is only answerable to that institution. “ Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Mr. Joe Obi, while I believe you should do your job, but it should not be in such a dirty manner.
ReplyDeleteDino may have some unresolved issues and wealth whose source can not be morally verified.
You should know that it is not enough justification for your boss Stella Odua to midwife the purchase of the most expensive bmw cars, to the point that even corrupt politicians all aggree that it was quite outrageously expensive.
What moral justification does your boss have for paying the cost of eight cars of same make and type on just one car.
Please leave Dino alone and seek for a more honourable way of masking this show of shame by the aviation minister.
Well, I don't know the facts Joe Obi has about his allegations on Dino. But we have facts about Stella's financial recklessness. So, who is fooling who? Anyway, we are watching to see how Mr. President will handle the issue. Aluta continua victoria ascerta. I plead with all Nigerians to read this post http://www.nigerianeye.com/2013/10/how-stella-oduah-and-cronies-plundered.html. There must be an awakening and the time is now lest these greedy men and women run down our dear Country, the only place we can truly call our land. Be wise and rise up against the wicked. God will see us through.
ReplyDeleteStella will "bless" Jona, and they'll close the case.
ReplyDeleteJ.
Mr Joe Obi, u better mind d way u talk. U should b probed also 'cos u are also currupt. Just leave Dino alone else thunder strike u dead. Stupid man. Odua's loot is very clear (black and white). We know many people in power loot money, but they were no caught. This one that was caught redhanded must face the consequence, at least as a lesson to others. May God purnish all those oduah group, for just little money, u sell ur right.
ReplyDeletePro-Oduah group, may u die in the hands of these bad leaders. I can't believe some Nigerians will still stand up to defend this thief. Upon all the innocent souls that has died in plane crash 4 lack of maintenance whereas this wicked woman was busy lavishing public funds unnecessaryly, she also refused to grant scholarship to poor Nigerians who wanted to go into aviation school claiming there was no fund. This thief has to go. She ha been doing it since, its just this one God has used to expose her."Them say na small shit dey stain yansh".
ReplyDelete