Stand-off with Sen Melaye lingers as Police vow ‘no retreat no surrender’

The Nigeria Police has insisted it would not withdraw its siege on the Abuja residence of Senator Dino Melaye until the lawmaker surrenders

The senator has stated that electricity and water supply had been cut off from his house ostensibly to force him uncomfortable and exit the premises.

The police had on Thursday invaded the Maitama residence of Dino.

The police said it wants the senator for Culpable homicide when he mobilised thugs to shoot at a police officer, Danjuma Saliu on July 19 2018 along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.

The public relations officer for the force Jimoh Moshood explained that the force had obtained a warrant of arrest on the senator, a copy of which was sent to the clerk of the National Assembly.

A statement released by the force spokesman on Sunday, said all the police wanted was for the senator to surrender himself for arrest and investigation into the alleged crime.

It read, “Senator Dino Melaye is wanted by the Police for a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Attempted Culpable Homicide, committed on 19th July, 2018, when Senator Dino Melaye and his armed thugs attacked Police personnel; shot and wounded Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF) on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.

“The Police operatives with a duly obtained Warrant of Arrest deployed to arrest Senator Dino Melaye in his residence in Abuja will not retreat until Senator Dino Melaye surrenders himself for arrest and investigation.

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“It is on record that the Police investigators submitted a Letter of Invitation dated 23rd July, 2018, signed by the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command addressed to the Clerk, National Assembly, Abuja, inviting Senator Dino Melaye to report on 26th July, 2018 at 1100Hrs at the Kogi State Police Command, CIID, Lokoja to answer to a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Attempted Culpable Homicide against him under investigation in the Kogi State Police Command.”

The police, however, debunked claims by the senator that the police did not invite him for questioning.

According to the police, a copy of the invitation letter was sent to the National Assembly with the medical report from the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State, confirming the admission of Danjuma into the Hospital for treatment of the gunshot injury he sustained from the attack

The police vowed to ensure the rule of law prevailed over the matter while saying no one was above the law of the land, no matter how highly placed.

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