A Prosecution witness on Tuesday told an FCT High Court that
he pleaded with Sen. Dino Melaye not to drink the substance he had in his hand
when he threatened to commit suicide on April 24, 2018.
Testifying, a police sergeant with the Inspector-General of
Police Special Tactical Squad, Sgt. Alwo Mohammed, said:” I pleaded with him to
get back into the bus.
“I told him he was my most favourite Senator. He refused to
get up. He had a substance in his hand.”
Melaye, who represents Kogi West senatorial district in the
National Assembly, is charged before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, sitting in Apo, by
the police with six counts bordering on attempted suicide, attempt to escape
from custody and damage of police property.
He was alleged to have committed the alleged offence on
April 24, 2018, while being conveyed by the police to Lokoja, Kogi.
The witness, informed the court that while conveying the
defendant to Lokoja, on reaching Area 1 roundabout, a white Toyota Hilux
blocked their bus.
He said the defendant then broke the windshield, stood up
and started shouting” I will not go to Lokoja.
”I held him down with one hand. While we were struggling
with the defendant, he pushed one of the officers and forced the door opened.
“The defendant then jumped out of the bus, sat on the ground
shouting. I will kill myself and put the
police in trouble”.
The witness further reported that street urchins then
blocked the bus and seized Melaye.
The police sergeant further informed the court that the
police team chased the Hilux van and caught up with it at the Yar’Adua Centre.
“We caught up with them near Yar’Adua Centre because their vehicle
had hit a jeep.
“Some of the men ran into the bush behind the National
Mosque. Only one person was eventually arrested there”.
While being cross-examined by counsel for Melaye, Benson
Igbanoi, who held the brief for Dr Mike Ozekhome , SAN, the witness said that
he gave a statement on the day the
police team attempted to convey Melaye to Lokoja.
Mohammed, who testified as the third prosecution witness
(PW3), informed the court that the signature on the statement was his but
denied that the phone number was his.
“I am not the owner of the MTN number 08067678745. It is not my phone number” he said.
Igbanoi, offered to tender the statement as an exhibit but the
prosecution counsel, Mr Jovi Oghojafar objected to the application, arguing
that the CTC was not paid for the document.
The defence counsel, urged the court to overrule the
objection, saying it was a public document and the name of the schedule officer
who certified it and signature, were on the document.
Justice Oriji ordered the defence counsel to pay the
required fees before the document will be admitted in evidence.
The defence counsel asked for an adjournment to enable him
put his house in order.
The judge, then, adjourned the case until Sept. 11, Sept. 18
and Oct.3 for the continuation of cross
-examination of PW3
The offence, the prosecution said contravened the provisions
of sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code.
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I thought we are done with this case
ReplyDeleteThis country nah Joke
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