The Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, on Wednesday granted the embattled senator representing the Kogi West Senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye bail, in the sum of N10,000,000 and a surety in like sum.
Melaye, who has been on admission at the National Hospital Abuja, and under police custody, was finally granted bail following his arraignment on allegations bordering on dealing in illegal firearms and other charges, over two weeks ago.
The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, in his ruling, stated that health condition of the accused stood as enough reason to grant him bail, adding that the offence alleged is not capital in nature.
He explained that the prosecution failed to show that if granted bail, the accused will jump bail, just has he admitted Melaye on bail of N10 million and a surety in like sum.
According to him: “The health situation of the 3rd defendant had earlier been admitted by the complainant to be such that they do not have adequate facilities to take care of him is a factor which merits consideration in this case”.
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He further stated that as at the time of this application made, the 3rd defendant was at Police Headquarters in Lokoja and the prosecution expressly stated that they had no medical facilities.
Melaye, along with Kabiru Seidu a.k.a Osama and Nuhu Salishu a.k.a Small were arraigned before the Senior Magistrate Court 2 Lokoja, following which he was remanded in police custody under the Inspector General of Police.
The defence counsel, led by Chief Mike Ozokheme (SAN), filed an application for bail at state High Court upon which the leading prosecution counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), challenged it via a counter affidavit praying he be remanded in custody, for fear he might tamper with the course of justice.