Senator Dino Melaye
The trial of the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, and two others for illegal possession of firearms and arms dealing was Thursday adjourned by a Senior Magistrate’s Court sitting in Kogi.
The case was adjourned by the Senior Magistrate, Sulyman Abdullah, due to the absence of the lead prosecution counsel, Alex Izinyon.
The Officer in Charge of legal department of Kogi State Police Command, Theophilus Oteme, told the court that Izinyon had an emergency call on Wednesday and that made it impossible for him to appear in court on Thursday.
Oteme therefore applied for an adjournment till September 23 for the commencement of trial in following the absence of the lead prosecutor and because Melaye was not in court.
However, the lead counsel to Melaye, Mike Ozekhome, represented by Yemi Mohammed, told the court that he had on good authority that Melaye was attacked in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on his way to Lokoja.
“I learnt that he was attacked on Wednesday in Gwagwalada on his way to Lokoja to attend his trial and up till now, I have not been able to reach him, I don’t know where he is at the moment,”Ozekhome said.
The Magistrate turned down the prosecution’s application for a long adjournment.
He said the Kogi State Administration of Criminal Justice Law did not allow for an adjournment beyond two weeks in a criminal case.
He adjourned the case till August 9 and ordered that the bail earlier granted to Melaye continued.