Court Clears Dino Melaye Of Resisting Arrest Allegations And Other Offenses

Court Clears Dino Melaye Of Resisting Arrest Allegations And Other OffensesJustice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja, has acquitted former senator Dino Melaye of charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

Melaye was arraigned on March 5, 2019, facing six counts related to attempted suicide, escaping from custody, and damaging police property. The alleged incidents occurred on April 24, 2018, when he was being transported by police to Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. During this transport, he reportedly attempted to escape by forcing his way out of the police vehicle.

The prosecution claimed that Melaye sat on the ground while holding a substance, threatening to consume it to take his own life, ostensibly to implicate the police. Additionally, he was accused of breaking the window of the police vehicle with his elbow, resulting in damage to police property.

The prosecution argued that these actions violated several sections of the Penal Code. Throughout the trial, Melaye maintained his innocence by pleading not guilty.

Before the prosecution concluded its case on March 17, 2022, it presented five witnesses and submitted ten exhibits to support its claims. In response, Melaye, represented by his counsel, Professor Mike Ozekhome SAN, filed a no-case submission.

Justice Oriji accepted Melaye’s no-case submission regarding two of the counts—threat to injure public officers and attempted suicide—allowing him to defend himself against the remaining four charges.

In delivering his judgment on October 7, Justice Oriji stated that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt concerning the remaining charges. He subsequently discharged and acquitted Melaye, declaring, “The verdict of the court is that the defendant is not guilty of the charges in counts 1, 3, 4, and 6. The defendant, Senator Dino Melaye, is discharged and acquitted.

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