A Prosecution witness has revealed how he convinced Senator Dino Melaye not to commit suicide in 2018.
On Tuesday, a prosecution witness told an FCT High Court that he begged Melaye not to drink the substance he had in his hand when he threatened to commit suicide on April 24, 2018.
The prosecution witness, a police sergeant with the Inspector-General of Police Special Tactical Squad, Sgt. Also, Mohammed, said, “I pleaded with him to get back into the bus.
“I told him he was my most favourite Senator. He refused to get up. He had a substance in his hand.”
Melaye, who is facing a six-count charge bordering on attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage of police property.
The lawmaker representing Kogi West on April 24, 2018, was alleged to have tried to kill himself by jumping out of a moving police vehicle from Abuja to Lokoja, Kogi.
According to the witness, on reaching Area 1 roundabout, a white Toyota Hilux blocked their bus.
He said the defendant then broke the windshield, stood up and started shouting ‘I will not go to Lokoja.’
“I held him down with one hand. While we were struggling with the defendant, he pushed one of the officers and forced the door open.
“The defendant then jumped out of the bus, sat on the ground shouting, ‘I will kill myself and put the police in trouble.’”
He noted further that some miscreants took hold of the lawmaker after they blocked the bus.
The police team chased the Hilux van and caught up with it at the Yar’Adua Centre, he added.
“We caught up with them near Yar’Adua Centre because their vehicle had hit a jeep.
“Some of the men ran into the bush behind the National Mosque. Only one person was eventually arrested there.”
According to NAN, While being cross-examined by counsel for Melaye, Benson Igbanoi, who held the brief for Dr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, the witness said that he gave a statement on the day the police team attempted to convey Melaye to Lokoja.
Mohammed, who testified as the third prosecution witness (PW3), informed the court that the signature on the statement was his but denied that the phone number was his.
“I am not the owner of the MTN number 08067678745. It is not my phone number” he said.
Igbanoi offered to tender the statement as an exhibit but the prosecution counsel, Mr Jovi Oghojafar objected to the application, arguing that the CTC was not paid for the document.
The defence counsel urged the court to overrule the objection, saying it was a public document and the name of the scheduling officer who certified it and signature, were on the document.
Justice Oriji ordered the defence counsel to pay the required fees before the document will be admitted in evidence.
The defence counsel asked for an adjournment to enable him to put his house in order.
The judge, then, adjourned the case until Sept. 11, Sept. 18 and Oct.3 for the continuation of cross-examination of PW3
The offence, the prosecution said, contravened the provisions of sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code.
