The Kogi State High Court, Lokoja, has given an interim order that Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, be moved to the National Hospital Abuja, for further treatment.
Justice Nasir Ajanah, the trial judge, gave the order on Friday after the senator’s legal counsel, Mike Ezekhome (SAN) sought for his bail.
This comes barely 24 hours after Melaye appeared before a Senior Magistrates Court in Kogi state, on a stretcher who denied him bail and ordered that he be remanded in police custody for 39 days.
According to the Police, Melaye is being arraigned for an alleged criminal conspiracy, as two suspects had earlier this year implicated the senator as their financier and supplier of guns to commit various crimes in the state.
He is also being tried for causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody.
As the case commenced, on Thursday, the prosecution council Alex Isihon, however, stated that the court did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the case.
But his lawyer in his submission argued that the court had the power by virtue of the Constitution to try the case.
Furthermore, he quoted Section 97 of the Penal Code which stated that the offence of conspiracy is bailable according to the Kogi State Administration of Criminal Justice.
However, after a short recess, Chief Magistrate Suleiman Abdulahi denied the bail application and ruled that Melaye would remain in custody for the next 39 days.
Melaye landed in the National Hospital after he jumped out of a moving police vehicle on April 24 refused to go to Lokoja with the police because he feared that his life may be in danger.
Head of Data Unit, International Centre For Investigative Reporting, ICIR.
Shoot me a mail at oojetunde@icirngeria.org