The Federal Government on Thursday arraigned Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West before the high court of the Federal Capital Territory.
He was charged with matters bordering on false information of attempt on his life.
He had reported to the police that some people made attempt to kill him on April 15, 2017, which the police said it found to be false.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 11 senators stormed the court to show solidarity to the Senator who is a member of All Progressive Congress.
Among the senators who appeared in court was Andy Uba, Ben Bruce, Phillip Aduda, Shehu Sani and many others Protesters also stormed the court in support of the Senator welding placards with inscriptions “istandwithdino if you speak the truth you die’’
The police had accused Melaye of falsely accusing the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Edward Onoja David, in the said assassinations attempt.
In the first count charge, the Senator was accused of deliberately giving false information to the police to frame Governor Bello’s chief of staff as the mastermind of the assassination attempt on him at his home town in Ayeroro-Gbede in Kogi state last year April.
According to the charges signed by Shaibu Labaran, the police discovered the alleged falsehood in Melaye’s claim while investigating the assassination claim.
In the second count charge Melaye was accused of making false statement of fact in a telephone conversation with Muhammed Abubakar, son of the late Former Governor for Kogi State with the intention of harming Mr Edward David Onoja.
Shortly after Melaye pleaded not guilty, his lawyer Ricky Tarfa (SAN) urged the court to grant the defendant bail on self recognisance pending hearing of the matter.
But the bail application was opposed by the prosecution counsel Shaibu Labaran He also said that if the defendant is granted bail he is likely to use his position as a Senator to intimidate potential witnesses.
After dismissing the prosecutor’s opposition, Justice Olasumbo Good luck granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety.
However, the Judge ruled that the surety to be provided by the Senator must be civil servant of at Least Grade level 14 in any Federal Parastatal.
The surety must also provide proof of resident at the Federal Capital Territory.
Afterwards Justice Olasumbo adjourned the matter till May 16th and 17th for hearing.
BusinessDay