Senate investigates alleged attempt on Melaye’s life

The Senate yesterday set up a seven-man committee to investigate the alleged assassination attempt on senator Dino Melaye in his country home in Ayetoro-gbede, Kogi State.

The committee was also mandated to look into the recent activities of the Nigerian Police, with the view of checking its excesses.The Committee is headed by Senator Jibrin Barau, with the following Senators as members: Chukwuka Utazi, Monsurat Sunmonu, Foster Ogola, David Umaru and Danbaba Abdullahi.

However another committee, which will specifically meet the governor of Kogi State, Alh Yahaya Bello, to seek his assurance that he will allow prosecution and commitment of neutrality in the case of Melaye was also set up

This special committee with the special assignment is headed by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, with members like Senators lbn Na’Allah, Stella Oduah and Francis Alimekhena.

The setting up of the Ekweremadu committee was sequel to his reaction to the setting up of the investigative committee into the alleged assassination of Melaye.The Deputy Senate President had expressed fears that Police investigation into assassination attempt on Melaye may not receive fair hearing, as he has been in running battle with the state governor.

“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, as a lawyer, Police investigation report requires prosecution by the state public prosecution in the state high Court. Looking at the running battle between Kogi governor and Dino, we need to seek the governor’s promise that he will allow prosecution,” the deputy senate president said.

However Senator Hamman Misau had earlier drawn the attention of the Senate to the assassination attempt on Dino Melaye, moving a motion to that effect. Reacting to the motion, Senator Shehu Sani noted that there are heights of attacks on politically exposed persons across the country expressing concern that in the recent times, there have been cases of politicians getting stoned at will by aggrieved persons, as well as other forms of abuse, insisting that the government must rise to provide protection for them.He disclosed that he had also been a subject of attack as his house and his constituency office in Kaduna was invaded by unknown gunmen last year.