Court Orders Police To Explain Why Dino Melaye Is Still Being Detained

Court Orders Police To Explain Why Dino Melaye Is Still Being Detained

An Abuja High Court sitting in Maitama today ordered the police to
show cause over it’s continued detention of Senator Dino Melaye who has
been in police custody since January 4th.

Justice Yusuf Halilu gave the order after Melaye’s counsel, Chief
Mike Ozekhome (SAN) informed the court that his client has been in
police custody since Jan. 4 against what the law stipulated.

“We are talking about the liberty of a citizen not because he is a
senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but a citizen, this is
contrary to sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of Nigeria. “If you
keep a man for 13 days you have already presumed him guilty, ” he
submitted.

Simon Lough, the respondent counsel, told the court that he only got
the motion on notice on January 16, and needed five days according to
law to reply. He added that he was and not aware of the order to show
cause.

He said though Melaye was in the police custody, he as the counsel
does not have the power to effect his investigation which was ongoing,
preparatory to charging him to court. Lough therefore prayed the court
for an adjournment to enable him file and serve his reply before
January 18. The judge explained that the police was put on notice to
come and show cause why the detained senator should not be granted bail.

“The court was approached by the police for his custody and the court
granted it, and now the court ordered that the police should come and
explain why he would not be released. I granted an order on January 14,
that the police should come and show cause,’’ the judge said.

He, however, adjourned the hearing till January 18, to enable the
respondent file his reply on the applicant. Both parties agreed to the
application for adjournment prayed by the respondent. The judge further
ordered the respondent to serve the applicant all the processes today.