The embattled Dino Melaye representing Kogi West senatorial district, Thursday, failed to appear in court in Lokoja for continuation of his alleged gun-running trial.
His lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who was represented in the court by Bar. Yemi Mohammed, told the trial Magistrate, Suleyman Abdalah, that he had it on good authority that Senator Dino Melaye was attacked in Gwagwalada on his way to the court.
Meanwhile, spokesperson of the senator, Ayodele Gideon, confirmed the attack, saying the whereabouts of the senator was yet unknown.
Mohammed said in the court, “I learnt that he was attacked Thursday in Gwagwalada on his way home to the court. Up till now, I have not been able to reach him, I don’t know where he is at the moment.”
He also said the prosecution counsel was not ready to open their case due to the “reason best known to them.”
However, Theophilus Oteme, Police representative in court, told the court that the prosecuting counsel, Alex Iziyon, SAN, had an emergency situation Wednesday that made it extremely difficult for him to appear in court.
He, therefore, asked for long adjournment to September 23; but was opposed to by the trial magistrate who said the long adjournment sought contravened the administration of criminal justice law of Kogi State as amended and adjourned to August 9, for commencement of trial.
However, Dino’s spokersman who gave insight into the attack, said Melaye’s car was trailed and eventually blocked at Gwagwalada area council by a Kogi government-numbered Hilux van and a Sienna space bus.
“As we speak, his whereabouts are unknown. Nigerians must come to his rescue. This political vendetta has been carried too far,” he said.
Melaye was among the senators who defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Force Headquarters maintained sealed lips on Melaye’s abduction as it failed to respond to enquiries on the development.
Jimoh Moshood, the Force Public Relations Officer, did not pick several calls made to his known telephone number just as he did not reply the text message sent to him on the line.
But on its part, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command, feigned ignorance of the abduction, saying information on the abduction was not at its disposal.
Its image maker, Anjuguri Manzah, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, insisted on telephone that the command was yet to receive any information to that effect.
“The FCT Police command has not received any information to the effect that Senator Dino Melaye is abducted, “he said.
