Dino Melaye Gives IGP 48 Hours to Produce Gun-running Suspects

Senator Dino Melaye has given the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, 48 hours to produce the two suspects involved in the alleged gunrunning case who reportedly escaped from police detention in Kogi State today March 28th. 

Speaking on the floor of the Senate today, Dino told his colleagues that the police is being used to harrass him. He threatened to sue the Police boss for “mental assault”. 

“Mr. President the social media this morning was awash and I have made confirmation that the suspects in my case who said I gave them guns and money – there is a reported case in Lokoja that there was jail break at 5a.m. this morning and the two suspects have escaped.

We were all supposed to appear before the Lokoja high court this morning. My lawyers were in court at 9a.m. and the case was called up and the prosecutor of the Nigerian police could not produce the two persons.

Instead of producing the two persons, they asked the judge to issue a bench warrant for an arrest but the judge refused to grant their prayers and the judge said despite the fact that I have not been served, I sent representation to the court. And the main accused persons are absent in court.

So she cannot grant a bench warrant and the matter has been adjourned to May 10.

Dino said unconfirmed rumor has it that the suspects were moved from detention and that they may have been killed. He said something is very fishy about the report. 

“I want to use the opportunity and on the principle of justice to call on the Inspector-General of police that within 48 hours, he must produce these accused persons because they are presumed innocent until proven guilty; they also have right to life. So police must as a matter of urgency produce these two accused persons. Failure to do so I will sue the IG for mental assault. Nigeria is not a banana republic,” he said.