Police relocate Melaye to DSS clinic

MASKED policemen yesterday stormed the Abuja hospital where detained Senator Dino Melaye was receiving treatment and took him away in a security vehicle.

This came seven days after Melaye surrendered to the police,slumped soon afterwards, and was  taken to the hospital for medical attention.

Apprehension soon spread about the fate of the senator after he was taken away yesterday by the masked policemen.

But the police later cleared the air on the situation and said he was merely relocated to the Department of State Security (DSS) as part of preliminary arrangements for his coming trial in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.

Police spokesman, Mr.Moshood Jimoh, an acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, told The Nation that Melaye was transferred to the DSS medical facility.

He said that contrary to claims by Melaye that he was ill, the police medical team found nothing wrong with his health that could delay his trial in Lokoja.

He said: “On the 9 th   of January, 2019 we got a high court remand warrant to keep him in police custody for 14 days.

“The police medical team at our facility examined him and concluded that he was okay to stand trial but he is insisting that he is not okay; that is why we are taking him to another government hospital.

“He has been taken to the DSS hospital and he will be returned to us after their medical examination because he does not have any case with SSS. He has a case with the police and we are going to take him to court within the period covered by the remand warrant.

“He will be taken to court within the 14-day period because the remand warrant is from an FCT High Court which gives us the permission to keep him in police custody for 14 days.

“He was only taken to their (SSS) hospital, he is not in their custody.

“Our own people have examined him and we want another government hospital to also examine him and give a medical opinion.”

And reacting last night, to criticisms trailing the police action, Jimoh said it was erroneous for anyone to say that masked men took Senator Melaye away, adding that no matter what, the Senator and other suspects must face prosecution over the alleged shooting of a policeman in Kogi State last year.

His words: “It is incorrect as reported in some sections of the media that Senator Dino Melaye was moved by masked armed policemen to an undisclosed location and that his whereabout is unknown.

“The Police Officer, Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, is yet to recover from the gunshot injury he sustained during the attack and still under intensive medical care in the hospital.

“Senator Dino Melaye will be prosecuted along with other suspects on completion of investigation .”