The Nigerian Police, Saturday has reportedly warned Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Dino Melaye to honour Police invitation or risk being declared wanted through Interpol.
Some reports alleged Mr Melaye may have taken to his heels after being accused of gun running and plans to cause chaos ahead of 2019 elections in Kogi state.
But the senator swiftly reacted to the claims he is on the run. His position on this was contained in a letter written by his lawyer on Saturday.
“For the records, I did not flee Nigeria and have no reason to flee my country, leaving behind my family as the online paper wants Nigerians to believe. My attention was drawn to their lies this night, hence this public statement.”
Mr Melaye had been accused by the Police of gun running and sponsoring political thugs to cause harm ahead of 2019 general elections in Kogi State.
The senator, however on his part, accused the Police and the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello of framing him up for political reasons.
But according to the Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Jimoh Moshood, “as we speak, Sen. Dino Melaye despite the letter sent to the Senate President as mentioned, refused to honour Police invitation till date and also refused to appear in court and has also continued to evade the service of criminal summon on him to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja on the 28th March, 2018 to answer to the charge of Criminal Conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms against him and Mohammed Audu.
“The Nigeria Police Force is, therefore, using this medium to advise Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu in their interest to comply with the order of the court and appear on 28th March 2018 before Federal High Court, Lokoja to answer to the criminal charges against them.”
Moshood explained that “if they continue to be evasive and fail to comply with criminal summon issued on them by the Federal High Court, Lokoja to appear on 28thMarch, 2018 to answer to the criminal charges of Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms against them, the Force, will obtain Warrant of Arrest for the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu and will definitely declare them wanted throughout the country and on INTERPOL platform for them to be arrested in any country wherever they are sighted and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for continuation of their trial.
“The Nigeria Police Force will continue to sustain the Rule of Law and maintain law and order throughout the country,” he added.
