Again Melaye’s bail application fails as court reserves ruling

Efforts to free Senator Dino Melaye from police custody have suffered another setback as the trial judge, the Chief Justice of Kogi State High Court, Justice Nasir Ajana, this Thursday adjourned the matter on his bail application.

The judge had on May 7 adjourned the matter on the senator’s bail application to May 10 (today).

However, Justice Ajana, when the matter came up in court onThursday May 10, reserved judgment on the matter till May 16, 2018, after allowing both the prosecuting counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), argue on the bail application for embattled Kogi West Senator.

The prosecuting counsel had urged the trial judge not to grant the bail application, as the defendant had been certified fit to stand trial.

He also filed a counter affidavit to the effect that the senator had made an attempt to escape by jumping out of the police van taking him to Lokoja.

But counsel to Melaye, Ozekhome, argued in his response that the senator managed to run away from the scene after being tear-gassed.

According to Ozekhome, if Melaye had wanted to escape justice, he would have either run to his village or any other place where he will not be easily reached; but that the senator, because he was not running to escape justice only ended up in National Hospital, Abuja.

But, Iziyon countered, arguing that he did not believe for any reason that Melaye was being treated in any hospital. Melaye, he said, “Only feigned an ailment” after he attempted to escape when being taken to Lokoja

He then told the court that the defense counsel had been unable to prove that the alleged ailment was beyond the responsibility of the prison.

Among other argument, Ozekhome submitted that the prosecuting counsel got it all wrong, arguing that the Constitution allows a high court judge to administer an applicant to bail.

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However, the judge held that both parties should agree on where Melaye will be held.

Ozekhome, noting that they were in the court on the issue of bail, insisted that there were medical reports from the National Hospital, Abuja, confirming his client’s asthmatic conditions, and injuries in the spines and on the legs.

Police had on April 24 arrested Melaye after he submitted himself to them following security siege on his house in Abuja.

The senator was said to have sustained injuries after he allegedly jumped from a moving police vehicle conveying him to Kogi State to be arraigned before the court.

He is being prosecuted over alleged unlawful possession of arms alongside two others in Kogi State.

 

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