Senator Dino Melaye, APC Kogi West, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and several global bodies over what he described as threat to his life.
Dino in separate petition filed by his counsel, Ricky Tarfa and Co,
alleged that there is a grand plan to murder him “extra-judicially” by
his “political enemies” in collusion with men of the Kogi State Police
Command.
Among the global bodies he petitioned are Amnesty International,
Transparency International, the Human Rights Watch, United Nations’
Resident Representative and the Ambassadors of the United States,
Germany, Canada as well as the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom
in Nigeria.
In the petition filed to the IGP, Dino who represents Kogi West in
the senate, called on the Inspector General of Police to set up a neutral
Police team that will investigate the allegations of gun-running being
leveled against him by the Kogi State Police Command.
He alleged that
the state police force is doing the bidding of the state governor,
Yahaya Bello, whom he is currently at loggerheads with.
“As things stand, I live each day in constant and reasonable fear for
my life, looking over my shoulders and being harassed by the named
politicians. The Police are a willing tools in the hands of these
politicians. am a law-abiding citizen who voluntarily submitted himself
before the FCT High Court to answer charges which I know are
unsustainable.
However, the situation I am in right now gives me a
reason to believe that the law enforcement agencies, particularly the
police, are in cohorts with my political enemies and can even go to the
extent of terminating my life extra-judicially.
I therefore seek your
intervention in the circumstances to ensure that my fundamental human
rights, which both Nigeria and your countries are party to, are
guaranteed and my life protected.”the petition reads.
Ricky Tarfa, SAN, in a similar petition to the Inspector General of Police, on behalf of Melaye, averred among others that:
“The fact that our client is now the one alleged to be a gun runner by the police in Kogi state is therefore extremely suspicious and with all due respect smacks of a set up.
“Our client who is abroad on an official trip had it brought to his notice and immediately informed us yesterday that the plans to set him up and frame him on spurious gun-running charges have been perfected and that some suspects would be paraded as having named him as their sponsor yesterday.
“This is exactly what happened in Lokoja yesterday 19th March 2018, with a press briefing and parade of suspects by the Force PRO on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Sir, we urge for your urgent intervention in this matter. As we have stated, our client, convinced of his innocence is ready to submit himself for investigation and to answer any charge against his person but by police officers of whose neutrality he is confident in this matter. Police officers from Abuja.
“Our client being a prominent serving Senator…will not and cannot run from Justice, but balks at being delivered directly into the hands of people who have made public threats against his person.
“We anxiously await your intervention sir, to secure the life of our client and to avoid any breakdown of law and order.”
Over the weekend, the Nigeria Police Force threatened to declare
Melaye wanted if he fails to appear before the Kogi state police command
on or before March 28th, to respond to the allegations of gun running
leveled against him by some political thugs recently paraded by the
police.
Dino has maintained his innocence since the saga started and has
alleged that his state governor, whom he criticises often, is behind his
travails.
According to him, “As a Senator, I have been vocal in my contributions to national
issues and “particularly so when the interest or well being of the people
of my constituency is concerned,” he said.
He noted that as a lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial
District in the 8th Senate, he had consistently spoken out against
injustice, mis-governance and acts of corruption “without mincing words
or minding whose ox is gored in my quest to better the lot of the
people of my constituency, my state and the nation as a whole.”
He lamented that despite being in the same political party (All
Progressives Congress) with Governor Bello, the Governor and himself
have remained at logger heads “because I do not spare him where I feel
he has gone wrong with respect to governance in Kogi State.”
Melaye said: “Instead of heeding my positive criticism and advice
however, for the good of the State, the governor has allowed himself to
become a victim of his own over-inflated ego and reportedly vowed that
he would get me recalled from the Senate and deal with me.