A Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Thursday remanded the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye and two others in prison till June 11, 2018.
This followed his arraignment on charges of gun running by the police, in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The Senator will remain in prison custody for the next 38 days pending the commencement of hearing in the suit brought by police against him and three others.
Melaye has through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome argued for bail while the prosecution counsel, Alex Iziyon seeking his imprisonment pending the determination of the case had earlier argued that the case against Dino is ordinary and not bailable.
Ruling on the matter, Chief Magistrate Suleiman Abdulahi denied the bail application and ordered him to be kept in prison custody till June 11, 2018.
Senator Melaye was earlier arraigned at an FCT Magistrate Court for attempted suicide and destruction of public property, among other allegations on Wednesday.
He reportedly jumped out of a moving vehicle when the police attempted earlier to move him to Lokoja to face trial a few days ago.
He was thereafter hospitalised for a few days under the close watch of police personnel.
The lawmaker was arraigned after he was confirmed fit for trial by the police although the lawmaker appeared at the court session on a stretcher.
He was thereafter taken to Lokoja after the Abuja judge granted him a N90 million bail.
Last weekend, the embattled senator survived a recall process allegedly initiated against him by agents of the state government.
However, the House of Representatives said in Abuja that the sight of Melaye on a stretcher was reminiscent of that of a sick man who should have received medical attention before his arraignment.
A member from Kogi State, Hon. Karimi Sunday, raised a point of personal explanation on the floor to bring the ordeals of Senator Melaye to the attention of members.
Sunday had alleged that Melaye was being persecuted by the Kogi State Government because of his strong views on certain issues affecting the state.
“Melaye is facing persecution from the state government because of his beliefs. We must do all that is within our constitutional powers to ensure that the rule of law prevails. What is happening to Melaye today can happen to any of us tomorrow, if we keep quiet”, he said.
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara said the House was satisfied with the steps taken so far by the Senate and was solidly behind the upper chamber adding that nothing must happen to Senator Melaye.
In his words,”If any law has been breached, the Police must ensure that his life is secured first. If anything happens to him, the security agencies will be held accountable. I have not seen in any country where someone is arraigned on a stretcher to take pleas. How do you even take his pleas? He must be alive first to answer to your charges because his life comes before the prosecution”.
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