Senator Dino Melaye arraigned in Abuja court

Kogi state senator, Dino Melaye, was on Wednesday arraigned in an FCT High Court, Apo, on a six-count charge, bordering on attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage of police property.

Mr Melaye, who represents Kogi West senatorial zone, denied committing the offences, while Justice Silvanus Oriji granted him bail in the sum of N5 million

Mr Oriji also ordered him to produce two sureties in like sum, as part of the bail condition.

The judge ordered that the sureties must be directors in the civil service, residents of the FCT, and must depose to affidavits of means.

The prosecuting counsel, Alex Izinyon, had told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on April 24.

He said the defendant while being conveyed in a police vehicle to Lokoja, forced his way out and escaped.

Mr Izinyon further said that the defendant sat on the ground, holding a substance in one hand threatening to drink it to kill himself so that he can put the police officers in trouble.

The prosecutor also said that the defendant broke the glass of the vehicle with his elbow and caused damage to police property.

He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code.

The counsel to Mr Melaye, Mike Ozekhome, prayed the court to allow the bail granted to the defendant at the Magistrates’ Court Wuse on the same charges to continue.

The prosecution opposed the application, adding that bail is at the discretion of the court.

The judge upheld the submission of the prosecution and gave the new bail conditions.

He said that the case would be assigned to another judge by the chief judge after the vacation.

The arraignment came a day after Mr Melaye defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party.

- NAN