Police begins investigation into Melaye’s ‘kidnap’

The Nigeria Police says it has commenced investigation into the alleged kidnap of Senator Dino Melaye, even as it has not been formally informed about the incident.

The spokesperson of the police, Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this in a statement Thursday night, noting that the Force Headquarters got to learn about the alleged kidnap of Melaye in the media.

“The Nigeria Police Force have not received any complaint or report in any of its police stations or divisions throughout the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) or any other state of the federation of the kidnap of Senator Dino Melaye from any of his family member, friend, associate or staff to indicate that the senator has been kidnapped.

“The attention of the police was drawn to the report of the purported kidnap of Senator Dino Melaye in some sections of the media”, Moshood said, adding that the police has “commenced investigation into the purported kidnap of Senator Dino Melaye, and wish (sic) to implore any of his family members, relatives or friends who witnessed the kidnap or have information about the purported kidnap of the senator to report the incident at the nearest police station to assist the police in the investigation.”

Police position contradicts the claim of Melaye’s spokesperson, Gideon Ayodele, who had earlier said in a monitored report that police in Gwagwalada, a suburb of Abuja, were informed about the alleged kidnap on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, there seems to be some mix-up on reports of the senator’s abduction.

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While Senator Ben Bruce had written on his Twitter handle, “I have just been informed by Moses Melaye, @dino melaye’s brother, that Dino has been abducted by unknown persons in a Toyota Sienna that blocked their car and overpowered them on their way to Kogi to answer to Dino’s court case…”, a counsel to the senator gave a different report of the abduction.

Melaye’s counsel, Barrister Yemi Mohammed, who stood in for Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had told the trial magistrate, Suleyman Abdalah, in Kogi State on Thursday, during the senator’s ongoing gunrunning trial, that he was authoritatively informed that Melaye was attacked in Gwagwalada on Wednesday on his way home from court.

He said, “I learnt that he was attacked yesterday in Gwagwalada on his way home from the court. Up till now, I have not been able to reach him. I don’t know where he is at the moment.”

 

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