Dino Melaye: Appear Before Us In 24Hrs, Senate Orders Police IG

Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has been ordered by the Nigerian Senate to appear before it unfailingly by 11am on Thursday to give tangible accounts on the humiliating arrest of Senator Dino Melaye by his men in Abuja.

IGP Idris’ summon followed a motion moved by Senator Sam Anyanwu seeking explanation into what the lawmakers now deem a life-threatening situation which their colleague has been subjected to.

Senator Melaye was arrested and re-arrested on Wednesday after he reportedly escaped police custody.

The federal lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District had sustained various degrees of injury after escaping police grip through the window of a moving vehicle, according to the police.

The Police Chief is expected to appear before the Senate tomorrow for questioning.

Speaking before the Senate adjourned plenary today, the Senate President Bukola Saraki said: “We as leadership are very concerned, Deputy leader and others have been sent to look for Dino Melaye. But it has gone beyond that and I can appreciate the emotions that have passed.

“The IGP should brief us tomorrow.

“I want to thank those who contributed. At times like this it is difficult to speak the truth because this is a violation on one, a violation on all of us, a violation on the institution and a violation on democracy.

“This action is a threat to the democracy we are all fighting for,

“We are about to go into an election period, and if these are the kind of excesses we will see from those responsible to protect us, then it is a cause for concern.

“We must all condemn this action, we should not be spending our energy on things like this,” he said.

Saraki added that since the incidence, he had been trying to reach the Police IGP to no avail, adding that is smirks of disrespect to him and to the institution of the Senate.

“I have not been able to reach the IGP and that is a disrespect, not only to me as an individual but to the institution of the Senate.

“This must stop. There are procedures and there are ways.

“We will go and ascertain Dino’s state of mind and find a solution to this problem,” he said.