Suspects allegedly backtrack; deny being given guns by Melaye

- The suspects who allegedly implicated Senator Melaye in an alleged illegal arms deal has reportedly backpedaled

- The two suspects reportedly denied the allegations levied against them by the police

- The court, thus, adjourned the matter to July 26 for the commencement of an open hearing

The two principal suspects who allegedly implicated Senator Dino Melaye in the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms and illegal arms dealing have reportedly denied the allegations levied against them by the police.

The duo of Kabiru Seidu, aka, Osama and Nuhu Salihu, aka, Small, who were arraigned before a Kogi senior magistrate court in Lokoja on Monday, June 11, alongside Melaye, allegedly declared that the allegations were false and they were not guilty when their pleas were taken, Daily Trust reports.

Legit.ng notes that the alleged offences, according to the prosecution led by Alex Izinyon (SAN), are contrary to section 97(1) and the Penalty Code and section 27(1)(a) (1) of the firearms Act CAP P28, laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

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Izinyon at the resumption of the matter had told the court that the state high court presided over by the chief judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah had released the senator on bail.

He said that the status of first and second defendants remained same in police custody as ordered by the magistrate court on May 3.

Izinyon reminded the court that the pleas of the defendants were not taken on arraignment as he submitted that the court has jurisdiction to try the case and should, therefore, go ahead to take their pleas.

However, when the charges were read afresh to the defendants, Melaye as well as Seidu and Salihu, pleaded not guilty as they said the seven charges were all false.

After the pleas were taken and the defendants pleaded not guilty, Izinyon applied for the leave of the court to have prosecuting witnesses to have their depositions forwarded to the defence.

The deponents, he urged, would then attend the court to adopt the depositions and have their depositions cross-examined.

However, Yemi Mohammed Esq. who held brief for Chief Mike Ozekhome, lead counsel for Melaye objected to the application saying that the case was a criminal one in which witnesses must give their testimonies in the open court.

Mohammed said the system the prosecution was urging the court to adopt amounted to a shortcut that would be prejudicial to his client and reduce the chances of the public getting to know the truth.

"It amounts to a closure of the trial by about 50%. Justice is a three-way traffic - the prosecutor, the accused and the society and that is why trials are done in the open court", he said.

In his ruling, the senior magistrate, Sulyman Abdullah, said he would want trials in his court to be concluded speedily but he would have to look at the rules of the court.

"Where they are no such rules, I harken to look at the provisions of section 479(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Kogi State.

"This is a case that this court will appreciate that everyone put what they have on the table. I am not comfortable with sworn depositions replacing oral testimonies of witnesses.

"The application of the prosecution is refused and I want this trial to be concluded in the normal ways trials are done and will be ready to take evidence day-to-day if need be", he said.

He adjourned the matter to July 26 for commencement of the hearing.

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Legit.ng previously reported that a chief magistrates court in Wuse, Abuja, granted Senator Dino Melaye leave to travel to the United States for an appointment with his physician.

The embattled senator was on May 2 arraigned before a court on charges bordering on his alleged escape from a police vehicle in Abuja on April 24, 2018.

Melaye’s counsel, John Odubela (SAN), at the resumed hearing on Wednesday, June 6, prayed the court to grant an order directing that the senator’s international passport be released by the commissioner of police, FCT Command, in order to enable him to proceed for treatment abroad.

Odubela informed the court that his client is an asthmatic patient and that his health had deteriorated.

He further expounded Melaye’s health condition with a medical report from the National Hospital, which was attached as Exhibit DM3.

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Source: Legit.ng