Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has cleared and released Senator Dino Melaye, a former member of the National Assembly representing Kogi West district, from all charges that the Federal Government had filed against him.
Melaye was charged with six felonies on March 5, 2019, including attempted suicide, attempting to elude arrest, and damaging police property.
He was reported to have committed the alleged offences on April 24, 2018 while being transported by the police to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, as he fought his way out of the van and escaped.
The prosecution claimed the senator threatened to swallow the chemical in one hand while sitting on the ground, so putting police officers in danger. He was also accused of causing damage to police property and smashing the window of the Toyota Hiace that was transporting him to Lokoja with his elbow.
The prosecuting team informed the court that the offences were under the Penal Code’s Sections 148, 153, 173,231, 326, and 327.
Dino entered a not guilty plea during the trial.
The prosecution questioned five witnesses and submitted ten exhibits to support its case against the defendant before it closed its case on March 17, 2022.
Melaye, however, submitted a no-case statement via Professor Mike Ozekhome SAN, his attorney.
The former senator was charged with two charges of threatening to injure public officers and attempting suicide. Justice Oriji maintained his no-case submission on these counts and directed him to enter a defence on the remaining four counts.
Delivering decision in the matter today October 7, Justice Oriji held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against Melaye in the other four counts.
He then exonerated and cleared Melaye, stating that
“The verdict of the court is that the defendant is not guilty of the charges in courts 1,3,4 and 6. The defendant, Senator Dino Melaye is discharged and acquitted.”
