Melaye Released, Says Police Was Civil

On Wednesday police released anti-corruption crusader, Dino Melaye, who was arrested after he led a protest against the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah over allegation that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority,NCAA, purchased two BMW bullet-proof cars worth N255 million for her.

According to the former member of the House of Representatives,  the Commissioner of Police in FCT was very civil and exhibited professionalism in the discharge of police duties.

Melaye was released around 5:30 pm, taken to the Department of Criminal Investigation and then back to the office of the Police Commissioner. Afterwards he was moved to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (CID) and then to the State Criminal Investigation Department. Later on Melaye was transferred to CP. 

“The man just said I should go. Nothing more, they didn’t ask me anything and that was all. He pleaded with me concerning the way the Area Commander treated me. I must confess that the CP in FCT was very civil and nice.”

Melaye's arrested at around 12:55 pm followed his refusal to allow the police drive away some of the protesters which they had arrested on claims of obstruction of traffic and disturbance of public peace.

Melaye had entered his vehicle to leave the protest venue after rounding off, but when hinted that some of his supporters had been arrested by the police, he parked and rushed to the scene to plead for their release.

When his pleas for the release of the protesters was rejected by the police, he then asked the driver of the Coaster Bus conveying some of the protesters not to move.

He asked the police to arrest him rather than going with the protesters, who he noted, were innocent Nigerians expressing their constitutional and fundamental rights.

Before his arrest by the police,Melaye and the protesters were fiercely confronted by the pro-Oduah group, also present there, with dangerous weapons such as matchets, long knives and sticks, but the repeated pleas by Mr Melaye to his group to remain calm prevented the protest from degenerating into what could have resulted in serious injuries or possible death of some persons.

While the protesters were chanting “Odua must go,” the pro-Odua group was chanting “Odua must stay.”

Journalists at the event were not spared by the pro-Odua group. The group attempted to seize some video camera.

Motorists, passers-by and onlookers were surprised at the turn of events given that the pro-Odua group carried dangerous weapons without any arrest or harassment by the police men.

The efforts of the hoodlums,Vanguard gathered,was aimed at frustrating the protest. Reacting to yesterday’s incident, the Special Assistant to the Minister Mr Joe Obi said Melaye did not have the credibility to embark on a protest against his boss.

He asked:

“In the first place how did Melaye realize the funds he used in purchasing the fleet of over 20 cars which are numbered serially in his name? ” Secondly, has he accounted for all the funds he collected when he was at the National Assembly?”

He added: “Ever since he lost re-election into the National Assembly, he has been involved in this business of offering himself for hire to organize protests. He in turn hires other people who join him in embarking on his phoney protests. ”

“I heard that there was some kind of disorder yesterday because he couldn’t pay those he hired to embark on the protest he led."

According to the Minister, now Stella Oduah is answerable only to the National Assembly, which was elected by Nigerian people.
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