Court Clears Dino Melaye of Attempted Suicide, Custody Escape Charges
By Matthew Eloyi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has discharged and acquitted Senator Dino Melaye, a former lawmaker representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, of charges relating to attempted suicide and escape from police custody.
Melaye faced a six-count charge brought against him by the federal government on March 5, 2019, following an incident on April 24, 2018.
He was accused of attempting to escape from police custody while being transported to Lokoja, Kogi State, and allegedly threatened to harm himself during the ordeal.
According to the prosecution, Melaye forced his way out of a police vehicle and sat on the ground holding a substance, threatening to drink it in a bid to cause harm.
Additionally, he was accused of damaging the police vehicle by breaking its glass with his elbow.
The prosecution argued that these actions violated multiple sections of the Penal Code, calling five witnesses and presenting 10 exhibits as evidence.
However, Melaye pleaded not guilty to all charges and, through his counsel, Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN, filed a no-case submission.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Oriji of the FCT High Court upheld the no-case submission on two counts and ordered Melaye to enter his defense on the remaining four charges.
But after further deliberation, the court found that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt on all counts.
Justice Oriji stated, “The verdict of the court is that the defendant is not guilty of the charges in counts 1, 3, 4, and 6,” before discharging and acquitting the senator.
