Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Network (ACN), Mr. Dino Melaye has been arrested by security operatives, less than two weeks after leading a demonstration at Eagle Square, Abuja, against the purchase of two bulletproof cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah at the cost of N225m.
The former lawmaker was arrested by two policemen — one of them Assistant Superintendent of Police Patrick Ejoh — who arrived his office at about 5:20pm with a warrant of arrest for alleged “criminal intimidation and threat to life”. He was taken to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, and will be arraigned at a Magistrate Court on Tuesday.
“Two Police officers are presently with me and they have come to arrest me. I do not know my offence,” Melaye said before he was taken away. “The two policemen just told me that they have a warrant of arrest on me with a charge of criminal intimidation and threat to life. But they did not tell me who I intimidated and threatened.”
Melaye’s last protest at the Federal Secretariat Abuja almost degenerated to a fracas, as a rival group allegedly sponsored by Minister Oduah staged a separate demonstration to neutralise ACN’s.
At the protest, Melaye and his men were held hostage for almost an hour by a team of 200 riot policemen led by ASP Sunday Odukoya, claiming that the anti-Oduah protesters were obstructing flow of traffic and disturbing public peace. He was driven in a police Toyota Hilux Car (open roof) with registration number NPF 2128 C to the FCT Command for interrogation.
While Melaye’s group was shouting “Stella Must Go”, the pro-government hoodlums recruited from the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) were shouting “Stella Must Stay”. However, they were overwhelmed by Melaye’s group because of the latter’s numerical strength.
One of set a of twins, who were part of youths recruited from Melaye’s Ijumu/Kabba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, told the media that they were actually protesting to fill their empty stomachs.
“I come from the same place with Dino but this matter has gone beyond brother or sentiment,” he said. “I am a graduate and have been without job. In this case, whoever pays me is the person I will support. We are here because of hunger.”
Melaye was arrested after insisting that members of his group should be spared but he was released hours later spells at the Department of Criminal Investigation, the office of the commissioner of Police and the office of the Commissioner of Police (Operations).
“From there, I was moved to the office of the assistant commissioner of Police (CID), and then the State Criminal Investigation Department. I was later transferred to CP,” Melaye said after his release.
“The man just said I should go. Nothing more, they didn’t ask me anything and that was all. He pleaded with me concerning the way the area commander treated me. I must confess that the CP in FCT was very civil and nice.”
