Embattled senator, Dino Melaye, has explained the events leading to his reported escape from a moving police vehicle that landed him in a hospital in Abuja on Tuesday. A statement issued by his media aide, Gideon Ayodele, yesterday morning, said the senator voluntarily submitted himself to the police and, therefore, did not deserve to be forcibly taken to Kogi state to stand trial in a slew of criminal indictments that include murder and armed robbery. “Earlier, in the morning, Senator Dino Melaye as a law-abiding citizen voluntarily submitted himself to the operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) who had laid siege to his private residence since around 3.35pm of Monday, April 23, 2018. “
He, along with his lawyers and personal aides, was driven in his private car to the SARS office in Guzape district of Abuja, sandwiched among the numerous police vehicles earlier deployed to his house. “But shortly after Mr. Melaye entered the police custody in Abuja, officers dragged him in a vehicle and headed towards Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, which also falls under his Kogi West Senatorial District.
Melaye feared that his life would be in danger if taken to Lokoja, amongst other alleged sinister motives of both the police and the state government there.” Ayodele said family members and political associates of the senator were traumatised by his ordeal, adding that his principal did not jump out of a moving police vehicle as reported in the media. Melaye had been at the hospital since yesterday afternoon, although the police said they have re-arrested and planned to take him to Lokoja to stand trial.