Senator fails to appear in court, lawyer claims he's missing

Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West - PDP) failed to appear for the commencement of his criminal trial at the Senior Magistrates Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

The lawmaker faces charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, political thuggery and other violent crimes in Kogi state.

During Thursday's hearing, his legal representative, Yemi Mohammed, told the court that the whereabouts of the lawmaker remains unknown after he was attacked on his way to Lokoja on Wednesday, July 25.

He said, "I learnt that he was attacked yesterday (Wednesday) in Gwagwalada on his way to Lokoja to attend his trial and up till now, I have not been able to reach him, I don't know where he is at the moment."

Senior Magistrate, Sulyman Abdullah, was compelled to adjourn the case till August 9, 2018, as the prosecution could also not open its case due to the absence of its lead counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon.

Melaye kidnapped, says colleague

The absence of the lawmaker raises concern as Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East - PDP) raised an alarm on Thursday that Melaye has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Murray-Bruce took to his Twitter account to disclose that Melaye's brother, Moses Melaye, informed him of the abduction.

He posted, "I have just been informed by Moses Melaye, 's brother, that Dino has been abducted by unknown persons in a Toyota Sienna that blocked their car and overpowered them on their way to Kogi to answer to Dino's court case. Let's be on the watch out. Will keep you updated."

According to a report by Channels Television, one of Melaye's associates, Musa Shuaibu, witnessed the incident and confirmed that the lawmaker was abducted along the Abuja-Lokoja highway.

"As we speak, his (Melaye's) whereabouts is unknown. Nigerians must come to his rescue," he said.

Melaye stands accused of gun running

After Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama, and Nuhu Salisu, aka Small, were arrested at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi on January 19, 2018, they confessed to the police that Senator Melaye hired them to cause unrest in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The criminal suspects disclosed that the lawmaker handed them a bag containing one AK-47 rifle, two pump action guns and the sum of N430,000 to unleash mayhem in Kogi.

The Senator has always maintained that he's being politically persecuted by state governor, Yahaya Bello, as he faces two other criminal cases.