Embattled Senator Dino Meleye has said he was not afraid of being investigated by the police or any other security agency, but alleged plots by the Kogi state police command to frame him up on trump up charges, arrest, detain and ensure that he is murdered while in detention.
In a five-page letter to the Inspector General of Police signed by his counsel, Rickey Tarfa, SAN and dated March 20, 2018, the embattled senator wants the police high command to set up a neutral investigation team led by trusted police officers in Abuja to conduct investigations into the issues for which he was being invited to Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
Rickey Tarfa said in the letter which was received in the office of the Inspector General of Police on 21st March, 2018 that they were afraid for the safety of the Senator while in Kogi, pointing out that his presence may also lead to a break down of law and order.
The Nigeria Police Force had threatened to declare Senator Dino Meleye wanted if he fails to appear before a Federal High Court in Lokoja on March 28 to answer criminal charges against him.
He drew the attention of the Inspector General of Police to an alleged attempt to abduct him at an Abuja High Court on March 1 and his several reports of attempt on his life.
The letter read in part: “Our client told us that from information made available to him by his supporters, the intension was to abduct him and whisk him to Kogi state where he would be at the complete mercy of the governor and where plans had been perfected and were being implemented to frame him on spurious charges, arrest and detain him and then murder him in prison while he is awaiting trial.
“It is noteworthy that our client has severally stated in the media that he is aware of this neferous plan and the involvement of the Kogi state Police Command in implementing same. The sheer number of armed policemen and security personnel deployed from Kogi state on 1st March, 2018 to abduct our client from the FCT High Court premises gives credence to our client’s fear.
“Sir, as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal republic of Nigeria, we urge that you intervene in this circumstance. It is obvious to our client that there is no plausible reason for him to believe that his personal safety is guaranteed in the hands of the Kogi in state police command.
“After the court hearing of 1st March, 2018 and the attemot to abduct him, the police had exchanged correspondences with the Senate leadership over an invitation to our client.
“It is evident from the letters dated 8th of March, 2018 that our client’s presence in Kogi state right now will put him in a situation where he will be in grave personal danger and which may also lead to a breakdown of law and order going by the antecedents of the governor. The letter therefore advises that the issues in respect of which the invitation was sent be investigated in Abuja.
“Our client as well as ourselves feel that this would be the reasonable option in the circumstance and suggest that a neutral team be set up by your office to investigate the said issues.
“Our client is not averse to being investigated as g any charges that maybe brought against him as demonstrated by his going to court himself to accept service of the information in charge no CR/106/18, it fervently wish to any situation which may lead to break down of law and order or which may involve his being pit in personal danger.”
The letter said further that “The fact that our client is now the one alleged to be a gun runner by the police in Kogi state is therefore extremely suspicious and with due respect, smacks of a set up.
“Our client who is abroad on an official trip had it brought to our notice and immediately informed us yesterday about the plan to set him up and frame him on spurious gun running etc charges have been perfected abs that some suspects would be paraded as having named him as their sponsor yesterday.
“This is exactly what happened in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital yesterday 19th March, 2018 with a press briefing and parade of suspects by the Force PRO on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Sir, we urge for your urgent intervention in this matter. As we have states, our client, convinced of his innocence is ready to submit himself for investigation and to answer any charge against his person but by police officers of whose neutrality he is confident in. Police officers from Abuja.
“Our client, being a prominent serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT,Chairman, Senate Ad HIC committee in Publicity and member of several other Senate committees will not and cannot run from justice, but balks at being delivered directly into the hands of people who have made public threats against his person.”