Court grants AGF’s request, fixes July 10 for Melaye’s trial

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, has fixed July 10 and 11 for the resumption of a criminal case instituted against the Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye. Our reporter gathered on Wednesday that the development followed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami’s letter dated June 4, 2018, which was sent to the court’s registrar requesting that a date be fixed for the continuation of the trial. The trial, which is one of the three criminal cases Melaye is currently grappling with, was on May 17, 2018, adjourned indefinitely on the grounds of the defendant’s ill health. The case involves two counts in which Melaye was accused of deliberately giving false information to the police to frame the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mr. Edward Onoja David, in an alleged assassination attempt on his (Melaye’s) life. Justice Olasunbo Goodluck had adjourned the case indefinitely after defence lawyers reported to her that the defendant was on admission in the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital in Abuja. But The PUNCH reported that the AGF, in his letter dated June 4, 2018, sent to the court that Melaye had since been discharged from the hospital. The letter with reference number DPPA/INVEST./023/18, stated that following his being discharged from the hospital, Melaye resumed legislative duties at the Senate on May 30. The letter addressed to “The Chief Registrar, High Court of FCT, Maitama, Abuja” and titled, ‘Re; Charge No. CR/106/18: FRN V Senator Dino Melaye; Request for a date for trial,’ was signed on behalf of the AGF by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran. Melaye dramatically resumed at the Senate with a neck brace and walking stick on May 30. Since his resumption, he has been making contributions on the floor of the Senate. The AGF in his letter, therefore, asked the court to give a new date for the prosecution to open its case. He also urged the court to serve hearing notices on the parties to that effect. “My lord, following his removal from the ICU, discharged from the National Hospital, Abuja and his subsequent resumption of duty at the National Assembly precisely on May 30 and 31, we humbly apply for a date for the prosecution to open its case in line with the ruling of this honourable court cited above and hearing notices served accordingly,” the letter read in part.]]>