Senator Dino Melaye (People’s Democratic Party, Kogi West Senatorial District) has lost a bid to end the six-day siege by police operatives on his Abuja home.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday rejected an ex-parte application by Melaye in which he, among others, sought to compel the police to end the blockade.
Justice Evelyn Maha, in a ruling, after listening to Melaye’s lawyer, Nkem Okoro from the law firm of Mike Ozekhome (SAN), declined to grant the interim injunctions sought by the Senator in his ex-parte motion.
Instead, Justice Maha ordered accelerated hearing of the substantive suit – a fundamental rights enforcement suit.
Justice Maha, who noted that she would cease to act as the court’s vacation judge by January 4 (when the court’s vacation ends), elected to return the case file to the court’s Chief Judge for re-assignment to a new judge.
The judge fixed January 14 for the hearing of the main suit.
Melaye had, in the ex-parte motion, prayed the court for an interim order, directing the police to vacate his residence, remove all blockades in front of the residence and allow his family and political associates access to him.
The PDP Senator had equally prayed the court for an order restraining the police from further threatening his life or putting his life in jeopardy pending the determination of the substantive suit.
He also sought the order restraining the police from arresting him, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The police have claimed Melaye is wanted for “Criminal Conspiracy and Attempted Culpable Homicide, committed on 19th July, 2018.”
According to the Force, Melaye and “his armed thugs attacked police personnel; shot and wounded Sgt. Danjuma Saliu, attached to 37 Police Mobile Force (PMF) on stop and search duty along Aiyetoro Gbede, Mopa Road in Kogi State.”
The operatives have vowed to maintain the siege on Melaye’s house until he surrenders.
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