Chidi Samuel|
Senator Dino Melaye will spend the next five weeks in police custody following the refusal of a magistrate court in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, to grant bail on Thursday.
The police arraigned the embattled Senator, representing Kogi West in the national assembly on seven counts of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms.
Sulyman Abdullah, a senior magistrate who sat over the preliminary hearing, said Mr. Melaye should be remanded in police custody but the Inspector-General of Police must ensure his health does not deteriorate.
Earlier, the magistrate, Suleiman Abdulahi, had denied the bail application filed by Mike Ozekhome, Melaye’s counsel.
Quoting section 97 of the Kogi state administration of criminal justice, Ozekhome argued that the offence of conspiracy is bailable.
He adjourned the trial to June 11.
Melaye has been in hospital since April 24 when he reportedly jumped out of a moving police vehicle conveying him to Lokoja.
Ben Murray-Bruce, the Senator from Bayelsa state claimed earlier in the week that Melaye jumped from the police vehicle because he was tear-gassed by officers conveying him to Lokokja.
He was on Wednesday arraigned before the Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrate’s Court, Abuja for attempted suicide and vandalism by the police but was granted an N90 million bail.
He was immediately re-arrested by the police and was taken to Lokoja courtroom in an ambulance around 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning.