Court acquits senator Dino Melaye of all charges in 2018 police custody case
On Monday, Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, Abuja, delivered a ruling in favor of Senator Dino Melaye, the former Senator representing Kogi West district in the National Assembly. The court discharged and acquitted Melaye of all charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Melaye faced a six-count charge dating back to March 5, 2019, including accusations of attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody, and damage to police property. The prosecution argued that Melaye committed these offenses on April 24, 2018, while being transported by police to Lokoja, Kogi State. He allegedly attempted to escape from a police vehicle, sat on the ground, threatened to ingest a harmful substance, and caused damage to the vehicle.
The charges were framed under various sections of the Penal Code: Sections 148, 153, 173, 231, 326, and 327. Throughout the trial, Melaye, represented by Professor Mike Ozekhome SAN, maintained his innocence and filed a no-case submission after the prosecution presented five witnesses and 10 exhibits.
Justice Oriji initially upheld the no-case submission for two of the charges but required Melaye to defend himself against the remaining four. However, in his final judgment, the court found that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and Melaye was discharged and acquitted of all charges.
Justice Oriji concluded: “The defendant, Senator Dino Melaye, is discharged and acquitted,” bringing the long-standing legal battle to an end.
