The Senate at its plenary session of Wednesday, 25 April 2018 agreed to summon the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Idris Ibrahim over the incident leading to the arrest of Sen. Dino Melaye (APC: Kogi) by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and to interrogate him on the recent attacks and killings of citizens across various parts of the country.
Presenting a motion on the incident, Sen. Chukuka Utazi (PDP: Enugu) informed Senate that the inhumane treatment inflicted on Sen. Melaye by the security officers of the NPF constituted a breach of relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that guarantee the rights to life, movement and dignity. He also described the move by the NPF as “an abuse of democracy”.
Sen. Shehu Sani (APC: Kaduna) also expressed dismay over the actions of the NPF in his submissions stating that it had resorted to intimidating and harassing public office holders rather than conducting itself according to the rule of law. Sen. Sani mentioned that recent happenings in the polity raised concerns about the practice of democracy in Nigeria and urged public office holders to desist from the deliberate abuse of powers vested on them.
Also, speaking in support of the motion, the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Bala Ibn’ Nallah (APC: Kebbi) noted that he was denied access to Sen. Melaye by security officers at the National Hospital in the attempt to follow instructions by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki (APC: Kwara) to lead a four-man delegation to assess the condition of Sen. Melaye’s health before the commencement of the day’s plenary session.
Following this, the Senate summoned the IGP to appear before its chambers on Thursday, 26th April, 2018 before adjourning its plenary session to enable lawmakers pay an official visit to Sen. Melaye at the hospital in a show of their solidarity and support.
It will be recalled that Sen. Dino Melaye was reportedly arrested by the NPF on his way to Morocco for an official visit at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport on Sunday, 22 April 2018. Following that, he was being conveyed in a Police convoy to face pending criminal charges against him, however, this was truncated when he jumped out of the police vehicle and injured himself. Although, he is currently in the hospital, Sen. Melaye remains under police custody with restricted access to visitors.
