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By Amuda Dan Sulaiman FAB.
The Federal Government on Thursday arraigned the Senator representing Kogi Western Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on two count charges.
Melaye was accused of falsely incriminating the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mr. Edward Onoja, in the said assassination attempt.
The offences were said to be punishable under sections 140 and 393 of the Peal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
He pleaded not guilty to the two counts filed against him by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on January 31, 2018.
Shortly after his plea, his lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), moved his bail application filed on February 22, 2018.
The bail application was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran.
But in her bench ruling, the judge, Justice Olasunbo Goodluck, granted bail to the defendant after dismissing the prosecution’s opposition which she ruled was “based on inadmissible affidavit evidence.”
The judge granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N100,000, with one surety.
The judge ruled that the surety to be provided by the senator must be a federal civil servant of at least Grade Level 14 in any federal parastatal or establishment.
The surety must also provide proof to be a resident of the Federal Capital Territory.
Melaye was accompanied to the Thursday’s proceedings by about 24 senators, including Senators Ben Murray-Bruce and Shehu Sani.
Youths from various associations took over the street with placards in solidarity with Melaye.
But shortly, after Justice Goodluck, handed down the ruling, men of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) from Kogi State stormed the Federal High Court premises.
Reason for their appearance was unknown, but this reporter was reliably told that they came all the way from Lokoja to arrest Melaye.
While the well-armed men took position outside the court, waiting to arrest Melaye, the Senator who already got wind of their mission had already left the courtroom for an undisclosed destination.
Up till 8pm last night, the stranded looking SARS still laid siege for a man who had already gone to celebrate his victory.
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