My Arraignment Can't Stop Me From Criticising FG - Melaye

The Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has said that his planned arraignment by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), for allegedly misleading the Nigeria Police in a case of alleged assassination attempt on his life, will not stop him from constructively criticising the Federal Government whenever the need arises.


Recall that the Federal Government through the AGF and the Minister of Justice, Malami, had on Sunday announced plan to arraing Melaye on Thursday, March 1, 2018 for allegedly giving false information to the Police and allegedly framing the Chief of Staff to the Kogi State governor, Edward Onoja, on the failed attempt on his life.


Speaking at the Senate plenary yesterday under personal explanation, Melaye noted that when the failed attempt on his life was made in 2017 at his country home in Kogi state, the Police naturally asked him who and who were the suspects, to which he gave the names of those who were apparently after his life given their previous utterances and the Police subsequently made some arrests and guns were recovered from the suspects.


The lawmaker said he wondered why the Federal Government will turn around to accuse him of giving false information in a matter that is still ongoing before a Kogi State High Court in Lokoja.



"If this arraignment is to stop me from criticising the Federal government, they have committed a capital compound mistake. I shall continue to speak, I shall continue to ask questions, I shall continue to criticise any public officer including the President of Nigeria where he has gone wrong.


"I have conquered fear and I am not afraid of the prison. The last administration arrested arrested me 14 times. The Abacha and Babangida governments detained me. I am not afraid of the prison, it is built because of human beings but we will continue to speak the truth not minding whose ox is gored.


"In an unjust society, silence is a crime. The battle to bring Nigeria back on track from these criminals in power is a battle of no retreat no surrender and I am ready to face the Federal Government on this matter, I will fight it with the last drop of my blood, no retreat no surrender," Melaye said.


Reacting to Melaye's explanations at plenary, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said "your points are well noted and I do not see how the issue of arraignment can be a way forward in a matter like this but be that as it may, I want us all to continue to defend democracy and fight for what is right and I can assure you that this institution will continue to stand for what is right and those who think that they are helping the government but sometimes they are doing things that are not in the interest of this democracy and I think they need to do what is right for the interest of all of us but for sure what is wrong is wrong and I think those who are looking at this will have a review and do what is right."