Chidi Samuel || Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi west in the national assembly was on Thursday arraigned by the federal government before the high court of the federal capital territory, Abuja for allegedly framing Edward David, chief of staff of Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state.
Melaye had accused Edward of deliberately giving false information to the police to frame him as the mastermind of the alleged attempt to assassinate him.
The offences were said to be punishable under sections 140 and 393 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
The flamboyant senator pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge when the case came up for hearing.
Shortly after his plea, his lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), moved his bail application filed on February 22, 2018.
The bail application was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran.
But in her bench ruling, the judge, Justice Olasunbo Goodluck, granted bail to the defendant after dismissing the prosecution’s opposition.
The judge granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N100,000, with one surety.
Justice Goodluck also ruled that the surety to be provided by the senator must be a federal civil servant of at least Grade Level 14 in any federal parastatal or establishment and must also provide proof to be a resident of the Federal Capital Territory.
Melaye was accompanied to court by many of his colleagues including Ben Murray-Bruce, senator representing Bayelsa east, and Mao Ohuabunwa, senator representing Abia north.