JUST IN: Dino Melaye charged with illegal possession of guns

Senator Dino Melaye who is challenging moves to recall him by
his constituency is in fresh trouble: the Police said they have
filed a case in court accusing him and three other persons of
illegal possession of firearms.

Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, announced the move today in a
statement.

The police took the action, following the confession of two
‘dreaded’ thugs who claimed they were working for Melaye, who
represents Kogi West in the Senate.

The men were arrested on 19 January at Ogojueje in Dekina Local
Government Area of Kogi State, after a shootout with the police and
have confessed being hired by Melaye, to cause mayhem in the state,
Moshood said.

One of the persons arrested was identified as 31 years-old
Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama. The other was Nuhu Salisu, who is 25
years-old. The third person charged to court was identified as
Alhaji Muhammed Audu, a politician, who is now said to be at
large.

The police said they seized from the thugs and their gang
members , two AK47 rifles, five pump action guns, two locally made
pistols and heaps of charms.

According to the police, the men not only confessed to have been
involved in several kidnappings in the state and environs, they
also claimed to be hired thugs for politicians.

“According to the gang leader, Osama, he has been working as a
political thug for one Alhaji Mohammed Audu a Politician in the
State.

” He said Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and
introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport road,
Abuja inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s Car in the month of
December, 2017.

“The suspect further confessed that Sen. Dino Melaye told him
that they should start working for the Senator as his political
thugs and they should recruit and train more other(sic) thugs to
work for him in preparation toward 2019 General election to enable
him ( Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and
disorganised Kogi State.

The police said Osama further confessed that Melaye handed over
a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the
N430,000.00 to share with his boys.

“Consequent on the indictments and criminal confessions against
Senator Dino Melaye by the principal suspect KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a
OSAMA “31 YRS”, Nigeria Police Force, wrote a letter dated 2nd of
March, 2018 addressed to the Senate President, Federal Republic of
Nigeria informing and requesting him to release Senator Dino Melaye
to report to Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command on the 7th
March, 2018 to answer to criminal offences levelled against him, to
enable the Police carry out a discreet investigation into the
confessions of the principal suspect against Senator Dino Melaye.
But Senator Dino Melaye have refused to honour the Police
invitation till date.

“A case of Criminal Conspiracy and unlawful possession of
prohibited firearms have therefore been filed by the Nigeria Police
Force at Federal High Court Lokoja on 16th March, 2018 against the
two suspects mentioned above, Senator Dino Melaye and Alh. Mohammed
Audu who is also a suspect in the matter and is now on the run.

Senator Dino Melaye who is challenging moves to recall him by
his constituency is in fresh trouble: the Police said they have
filed a case in court accusing him and three other persons of
illegal possession of firearms.

Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, announced the move today in a
statement.

The police took the action, following the confession of two
‘dreaded’ thugs who claimed they were working for Melaye, who
represents Kogi West in the Senate.

The men were arrested on 19 January at Ogojueje in Dekina Local
Government Area of Kogi State, after a shootout with the police and
have confessed being hired by Melaye, to cause mayhem in the state,
Moshood said.

One of the persons arrested was identified as 31 years-old
Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama. The other was Nuhu Salisu, who is 25
years-old. The third person charged to court was identified as
Alhaji Muhammed Audu, a politician, who is now said to be at
large.

The police said they seized from the thugs and their gang
members , two AK47 rifles, five pump action guns, two locally made
pistols and heaps of charms.

According to the police, the men not only confessed to have been
involved in several kidnappings in the state and environs, they
also claimed to be hired thugs for politicians.

“According to the gang leader, Osama, he has been working as a
political thug for one Alhaji Mohammed Audu a Politician in the
State.

” He said Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and
introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport road,
Abuja inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s Car in the month of
December, 2017.

“The suspect further confessed that Sen. Dino Melaye told him
that they should start working for the Senator as his political
thugs and they should recruit and train more other(sic) thugs to
work for him in preparation toward 2019 General election to enable
him ( Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and
disorganised Kogi State.

The police said Osama further confessed that Melaye handed over
a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the
N430,000.00 to share with his boys.

“Consequent on the indictments and criminal confessions against
Senator Dino Melaye by the principal suspect KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a
OSAMA “31 YRS”, Nigeria Police Force, wrote a letter dated 2nd of
March, 2018 addressed to the Senate President, Federal Republic of
Nigeria informing and requesting him to release Senator Dino Melaye
to report to Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command on the 7th
March, 2018 to answer to criminal offences levelled against him, to
enable the Police carry out a discreet investigation into the
confessions of the principal suspect against Senator Dino Melaye.
But Senator Dino Melaye have refused to honour the Police
invitation till date.

“A case of Criminal Conspiracy and unlawful possession of
prohibited firearms have therefore been filed by the Nigeria Police
Force at Federal High Court Lokoja on 16th March, 2018 against the
two suspects mentioned above, Senator Dino Melaye and Alh. Mohammed
Audu who is also a suspect in the matter and is now on the run.