Femi Falana, human rights lawyer,
has advised Dino Melaye, lawmaker representing Kogi west senatorial district,
to submit himself for arrest without any delay.
Policemen invaded the Abuja
residence of the senator last week in a bid to arrest him.
Having failed to secure his
arrest, the officers vowed not to leave the place until they get Melaye. The
policemen surrounded the house and cut water and electricity supplies.
Melaye, who told reporters on the
telephone that he was not in Abuja at the time the policemen stormed his
residence, promised to report to the police but had not done so
In his reaction to the siege laid
to Melaye’s residence by the police, Falana asked the senator to give himself
up for arrest and “end the drama”.
“The fundamental right of every
citizen to personal liberty is guranateed by section 35 of the Constitution of
Nigeria and aricle 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The
right may however be violated by the State if there is reasonable suspicion
that any citizen has committed a criminal offence,” Falana said in a statement.
“The Nigeria Police Force
recently announced its plan to arrest Senator Dino on the allegation that he
has committed the offences of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide.
The Senator did not respond to the invitation of the Police on the grounds that
the permission of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was not sought and
obtained!
“Convinced that the Senator has
decided not to submit himself for investigation, a team of police personnel
have surrounded his residence with a view to effecting his arrest. The siege to
the house by the Police has needlessly lasted for 6 days. It has been reported
that the supply of electricity and water to the house has been disconnected by
the Police. Such action cannot be justified in law. There is no doubt that the
Nigeria Police Force has itself to blame for the sensationalization of the
planned arrest of the Senator.
“The Police ought to have
effected the arrest of the Senator under the relevant provisions of the
Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which empower the Police and other
law enforcement to break into any house to arrest if there is evidence that any
criminal suspect against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by any court
has absconded or is concealing himself or herself so that the warrant cannot be
executed. By sending over 60 armed police personnel to arrest an citizen the
Nigeria is exposing the Federal Government to ridicule.
“However, by politely requesting
Senator Melaye to submit himself for arrest the Nigeria Police Force has
accorded him the special treatment that is normally reserved for Very Important
Personalities in Nigeria by security agencies. It is an indisputable fact that
but for his privileged position in the country the Police would have forcefully
arrested the Senator without laying any siege to his house. To end the needless
drama and the unwarranted inconvenience to which his family members and
neighbours have been subjected for the past six days Senator Melaye should
submit himself for arrest without any further delay.”
LOL, I wonder why he is running
ReplyDeleteI wonder o, baba will soon drop new music video
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