The embattled Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi West has disclosed his readiness to make himself available to the police.
Dino on Tuesday morning posted on his Twitter handle: “I will make myself available to the police today. My resolve to speak the truth and defend the poor masses of NIGERIA is Total. We shall overcome!!!”
According to information he posted on his Twitter handle on Monday, Melaye said he was arrested on his way to Morocco after checking in to attend a Federal Government sponsored engagement.
He wrote: “I have just been arrested at the international wing o for the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport on my way to Morocco for an official engagement sponsored by the Federal Govt after checking in.”
A combined team of mobile and regular police officers had taken over the Abuja residence of the Senator. They blocked the only entrance leading to the house, apparently to prevent any entry into the building.
The police action came on Monday after the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) arrested and detained Melaye briefly at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Melaye was on his way to Morocco, when the NIS stopped him because he was on the wanted list of the police.
The lawmaker was later released by the NIS before the police invaded his house.
Two of Senator Melaye’s aides said that the police officers arrived in the residence at 11, Sangha Street, Maitama District at about 1:40 pm and surrounded it
About 26 armed police officers laid siege to the house.
It was unclear whether there were other operatives inside his premises but police vehicles were parked nearby.
Speaking to journalists at the entrance of Melaye’s house, an activist, Comrade Frank Tietie, said the siege on the lawmaker was uncalled for, and was an abuse of his rights and privileges.
He said: “Nigerians are dying daily and this is the only person who speaks loudly for them, this is the only voice in the Senate, he is being harassed, his fundamental rights to liberty, to movement, to hold opinion, to express himself, are being affected as we speak.
“This is outright harassment, this is unacceptable, it is unacceptable anywhere in the world and particularly for an ordinary Nigerian citizen and then you can imagine that it is happening to a distinguished Senator of the federal Republic of Nigeria. What hope does the Nigerian citizen have? This is unacceptable.””
Tietie who doubles as a legal practitioner, challenged the police to show a court order warranting the arrest of Melaye to justify their action.
“I will challenge the police. Please show us the legal instrument, the court order that justified the invasion of Senator Melaye’s residence and holding him to ransom. He is under siege,” he said.
On why Dino has not submitted himself to the police, he explained: “Under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, particularly Section 98, the Chief Judge of Federal High Court has the discretion or power to consider one the security of an accused person. On this subject matter, the counsel of Melaye has written to Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, saying his client’s safety is not guaranteed in Kogi State.”