Court transfers Melaye”s arms saga case to Abuja

The criminal case instituted by the Nigerian Police against Senator Dino Melaye, Mohammed Audu, and two others has been transferred out of the Lokoja Federal High Court Division to the Abuja division of the court.

When the case came up for mentioning on Thursday, the Prosecuting Counsel, G.O Ojo said he was ready to move the exparte motion requesting that the case be brought forward from the initial May 10 it was slated for.

His argument was premised on the fact that since the two suspects who indicted Dino in the gun running, Kabiru Seidu (a.k.a Osama) and Nuhu Salisu (a.k.a Small) who had earlier escaped from police custody has been re-arrested, the case should commence earnest.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Phoebe Ayua interrupted him, saying that he ought to have been notified of the new development on the case.

The prosecutor who said he had not been notified proceeded to argue on the motion Exparte dated April 6, 2019 requesting for an early date to commence trial for the case.

Ruling shortly on the prosecutor counsel demands, Justice Ayua said, "Hearing of this case has been overtaken by event. The Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati had reassigned this case to Abuja to be heard under Justice Gregor following complaints by one of the defendants in the case."

The prosecutor tried frantically to convince the court on why the case should continue in Lokoja, saying only one person should not be allowed to change the discretion of the court.

But his argument was rebuffed by Justice Ayua who maintained that the case must follow administrative protocol as prescribed by the acting Chief judge of the Federal High Court.