Group Berates FG over Dino Melaye’s arrest

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, November 5th, 2013

Kayode Adelowokan, Lagos

An anti-corruption crusader group, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has condemned the arrest of the Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption Network, Honourable Dino Melaye, by the men of the Nigeria Police.

Dino Melaiye, during a protest in abuja

The ex-lawmaker was whisked to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command by a Special Team, led by one Patrick Ejoh, an Assistant Superintendent of Police.

The Police Officers were said to have arrived at Melaye’s office at about 5.20pm with a Warrant of Arrest for alleged “criminal intimidation and threat to life.”

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran condemned the use of brute force by the Federal Government to silence the Nigerian people.

According to Adeniran, “This use of brute force to suppress Nigerians from airing their opinions on the corruption ravaging the country is antithetical to the spirit of true democracy. This arbitrary arrest is a violation of the fundamental rights of Mr. Melaye. It is very unfortunate all these are happening in a civilian rule.

“The Minister that erred in her course of duty has not been arraigned, it is someone who protested against her misdemeanor that would be arraigned as we have been made to understand. At times one wonders if we are actually practicing democracy or still in the military regime? This is the highest level of absurdity.

“It is high time someone called these political office holders to order. What intimidation and threat to life are we talking about here? Staging a peaceful protest against Ms. Stella Oduah’s misdemeanor has become intimidation and threat to life? These politicians would not stop to amaze us.

“The message has been left; the messenger is being dealt with. Why leave the substantive issue which is the purchase of just two cars at a whooping sum of N255million naira, to deal with an ordinary Nigerian that exercised his freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”

The anti-corruption crusader however called for the immediate release of Mr. Dino Melaye and called for the prosecution of the Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah.