By Clare Nwaiwu
Barely 24 hours after Sen. Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial Zone under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upper legislative chamber cross-carpeted to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he was docked for a criminal offence and granted a N5m bail.
Melaye was, Wednesday, arraigned in an FCT High Court, Apo, on a six-count charge, of attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage of police property.
The senator however, denied committing the offences following which the High Court Judge, Justice Silvanus Oriji granted him bail in the sum of N5 million.
[penci_blockquote style=”style-2″ align=”none” author=””]The counsel further stated 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.[/penci_blockquote]
The Judge also ordered him to produce two sureties in like sum, as part of the bail conditions. He ordered that the sureties must be directors in the civil service, resident in the FCT, and depose to affidavits of means.
The prosecuting counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), had informed the court that the suspect 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.
The counsel further stated 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.
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He also accused the defendant of breaking the glass of the vehicle with his elbow and caused damage to police property. According to him, the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code.
However, counsel to the defendant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), 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 which the judge upheld and gave the new bail conditions.
He said that the case would be assigned to another judge by the chief judge after the vacation.