Dino Melaye denies having fled Nigeria saying the rumour is the handiwork of his political enemies

BELEAGURED Senator Dino Melaye has denied claims that he has fled the country in a bid to avoid arrest attributing the publication of the story to his political enemies who want to discredit him.

Yesterday, it was reported that Senator Melaye fled Nigeria and vowed not to return until there is a new government at the federal level as well as in his home state of Kogi in response to moves to have him recalled from the senate. Controversial Senator Melaye, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, is facing the prospect of being recalled from the senate after the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed an appeal he filed asking that the recall process be truncated with immediate effect.

Denying the story, Senator Melaye said the work was mere propaganda put about top discredit him. In a strong-worded statement, Senator Melaye said: "I ordinarily want to ignore the antics of the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello and the Nigeria Police, which has openly take side in the Kogi political crisis, save for the latest but coordinated lies in the garb of exclusive news by the notorious online blackmailer – Sahara Reporters.

"For the records, I did not flee Nigeria and have no reason to flee my country leaving behind my family as the online paper wants Nigerians to believe. My attention was drawn to their lies this night, hence this public statement, lest the unsuspecting members of the public and my supporters believe the lies by Omoyele Sowore as directed by his new paymasters.

"The lies in the Sahara Reporters’ so-called news report is nothing but to cause serious disharmony in the Senate and among united majority Senators, who are resolute in defending democracy and its institutions no matter whose ox is gored. For the avoidance of doubt, I have not received any court summon either in person or by proxy in my house or office for me to appear on March 28 as being insinuated by the police regarding the latest allegation against me."

He added that last Monday’s stage-managed parade of crime suspects in Lokoja by the police public relations officer Jimoh Moshood, where a suspect was tutored to implicate him is just a continuation and expansion of the attempt to have him arrested at all costs and ultimately kill him. Senator Melaye added: "The public will recall that on Thursday, March 1, 2018 when the federal government arraigned me for allegedly given false information to the police in a case of failed assassination plot against me, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, Special Anti-Armed Robbery Squad operatives from Kogi State Police Command laid siege on the court premises in order to prevent me from enjoying my bail with the intention to kidnap me to Lokoja to be poisoned, although it turned out to be another failed attempt on my life.

"It is worrisome that the police headquarters has got itself entangled in the Kogi political crisis and has taken side. It is, however, bizarre and unprecedented that Mr Moshood, will have to travel to Lokoja last Monday in order to act a script written by Governor Bello. A discerning mind will ask that, how many times has Mr Moshood travel to Sokoto, Enugu or Lagos to parade suspects on behalf of a police commissioner?

"It has become expedient for me to issue this statement to the public and to let you know that I have taken the matter up with the international community in order to report this undue intimidation and harassment. Let me reiterate here for the umpteen times that no amount of intimidation, blackmail, arrests or threats will stop me from championing the cause of the masses."