Kogi Chief Judge orders transfer of Melaye to National Hospital

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7 years ago

A Kogi State High Court, sitting in Lokoja, on Friday ordered that the embattled senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Dino Melaye, should be transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja.

The court also fixed Monday, May 7 for argument on the application for bail brought by the senator.

Melaye through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, had approached the court with two applications before the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nasir Ajana.

But the Police also approached the court with an application for variation of the ruling of the Magistrate Court to enable Melaye to be kept in a federal prison.

However, Melaye’s first application was the one asking the court to order that Melaye should be taken to the National Hospital for proper treatment, while the second was an application for bail.

Moving the motions, Ozekhome prayed the court for a speedy trial of the matter, saying the critical health condition of the senator demanded that he should be transferred to the National Hospital, Abuja for proper medical care, before the next adjoined date.

Granting the request, Ajana explained that the order was to enable the senator to receive medical attention, following the lack of facilities at the Police Clinic Lokoja where he is been held in police custody.

According to Justice Ajanah, only the living can “Stand Trial”

The court added that that the order became necessary as the prosecution could not come up with a federal prison in Abuja that has the required health facilities that would take care of the health condition of Melaye.

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A mild drama, however, ensued when the counsel to the police, I. E Oteme, refused to be served the application for bail, saying that the document should be brought to the IGP in Abuja.

But the presiding condemned the action and ordered that the counsel be served in the court.

The Chief described the case as one that presents an interesting scenario, ordered the Commissioner of police be served through his counsel in court, while the Senator be taken to National Hospital Abuja, under the custody of the Police.