The Nigeria Police, on
Saturday, announced that it will declare Mr. Dino Melaye and one Mr. Mohammed
Audu wanted if they fail to comply with criminal summon issued on them by the
Federal High Court, Lokoja. Mr Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West
Senatorial District, and Mr Audu are to appear on 28 March to answer to criminal
charges of conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited
firearms. The summon was issued following the refusal of the two men to be
in court on 20 March when the trial was scheduled to start.
The Police made the
announcement in a statement signed by Mr. Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations
Officer. The Police, said the statement, will obtain warrant of
arrest for the arrest of the two men and will declare them wanted
throughout the country and on the Interpol platform for them to be
arrested in any country they are seen and handed over to the Nigeria Police
Force.
The Force noted that despite
the letter sent to the Senate President for Mr. Melaye's invitation, the
senator has refused to appear in court and has also evaded the service of
criminal summon on him to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja.
"The Nigeria Police
Force is, therefore, using this medium to advise Senator Dino Melaye and
Mohammed Audu in their interest to comply with the order of the court and
appear on 28 March before Federal High Court, Lokoja to answer to the
criminal charges against them," said the statement.
It added that the Kogi State
Police Command and operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed
and arrested two suspects, Kabiru Saidu alias Osama and Nuhu Salisu alias Small
after a gun battle at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of
Kogi State on 19 January.
During investigation, claimed the Police, the suspects admitted involvement in
kidnappings and robberies, murders and other violent crimes in Kogi
State, reasons for which they had been on the Police wanted list of the Police
for over two years.
Saidu, the gang leader, alleged the Police, also admitted that his gang had
worked as political thugs for Mr. Audu, who invited him to Abuja for an
introduction to Mr. Melaye in December.
The gang leader also told the Police that Mr. Melaye gave him a
bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum of
N430,000 to share with his boys. The Police maintained that their investigation
show that Messrs Melaye and Audu have a case to answer.
Consequent upon the
confessions of the suspects, who were paraded by the Kogi State Police on 19
March, the Police sent a letter of investigation activities/invitation to the
Senate President, requesting him to release Mr. Melaye to report to the Kogi
State Commissioner of Police. This, explained the Force, is to enable its team
carryout a discreet and thorough investigation into the case. However, Mr.
Melaye refused to honour the invitation.
Based on the evidence gathered, the Police filed a case of criminal conspiracy
and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms at the Federal High Court Lokoja
on 16 March against Saidu and Salisu. Messrs Melaye and Audu, however, refused
to appear in court on 20 March when the trial was slated to commence. This
prompted the court to issue a criminal summon on Messrs Melaye and Audu to
appear in court on 28 March.
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