Court transfers Melaye’s arms saga case to Abuja

The criminal case instituted by the Nigerian Police against
Senator Dino Melaye, Mohammed Audu, and two others has been
transferred out of the Lokoja Federal High Court Division to the
Abuja division of the court.

When the case came up for mentioning on Thursday, the
Prosecuting Counsel, G.O Ojo said he was ready to move the exparte
motion requesting that the case be brought forward from the initial
May 10 it was slated for.

His argument was premised on the fact that since the two
suspects who indicted Dino in the gun running, Kabiru Seidu (a.k.a
Osama) and Nuhu Salisu (a.k.a Small) who had earlier escaped from
police custody has been re-arrested, the case should commence
earnest.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Phoebe Ayua interrupted
him, saying that he ought to have been notified of the new
development on the case.

The prosecutor who said he had not been notified proceeded to
argue on the motion Exparte dated April 6, 2019 requesting for an
early date to commence trial for the case.

Ruling shortly on the prosecutor counsel demands, Justice Ayua
said, “Hearing of this case has been overtaken by event. The Acting
Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati had
reassigned this case to Abuja to be heard under Justice Gregor
following complaints by one of the defendants in the case.”

The prosecutor tried frantically to convince the court on why
the case should continue in Lokoja, saying only one person should
not be allowed to change the discretion of the court.

But his argument was rebuffed by Justice Ayua who maintained
that the case must follow administrative protocol as prescribed by
the acting Chief judge of the Federal High Court.

The criminal case instituted by the Nigerian Police against
Senator Dino Melaye, Mohammed Audu, and two others has been
transferred out of the Lokoja Federal High Court Division to the
Abuja division of the court.

When the case came up for mentioning on Thursday, the
Prosecuting Counsel, G.O Ojo said he was ready to move the exparte
motion requesting that the case be brought forward from the initial
May 10 it was slated for.

His argument was premised on the fact that since the two
suspects who indicted Dino in the gun running, Kabiru Seidu (a.k.a
Osama) and Nuhu Salisu (a.k.a Small) who had earlier escaped from
police custody has been re-arrested, the case should commence
earnest.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Phoebe Ayua interrupted
him, saying that he ought to have been notified of the new
development on the case.

The prosecutor who said he had not been notified proceeded to
argue on the motion Exparte dated April 6, 2019 requesting for an
early date to commence trial for the case.

Ruling shortly on the prosecutor counsel demands, Justice Ayua
said, “Hearing of this case has been overtaken by event. The Acting
Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati had
reassigned this case to Abuja to be heard under Justice Gregor
following complaints by one of the defendants in the case.”

The prosecutor tried frantically to convince the court on why
the case should continue in Lokoja, saying only one person should
not be allowed to change the discretion of the court.

But his argument was rebuffed by Justice Ayua who maintained
that the case must follow administrative protocol as prescribed by
the acting Chief judge of the Federal High Court.