Anti-Oduah protest: Police arrest Melaye again

Policemen whisking away the leader of the Anti-Corruption Network, Dino Melaye and some of the group's members, during their protest against Oduah, in Abuja ... on Wednesday.

Barely two weeks after leading protesters to Eagle Square, Abuja over the N255m bulletproof car scandal involving the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, the Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption Network, Mr. Dino Melaye, was on Monday arrested by security operatives.

Although the reason for the arrest was not immediately known  as at press time, The PUNCH was informed that the ex-lawmaker was taken to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command by a Special Team led by one Patrick Ejoh, an Assistant Superintendent of Police.

The police officers were said to have arrived Melaye’s office at about 5.20 pm with a warrant of arrest for alleged “criminal intimidation and threat to life.”

He was driven in a police Toyota Hilux Car (open roof) with registration number NPF 2128 C to the FCT Command for interrogation.

From the copy of the arrest warrant which was sent to our correspondent through e-mail, it was obvious that he might be arraigned today (Tuesday) at a magistrate court.

Before his departure with the police, Melaye had told The PUNCH that, “Two police officers are presently with me and they have come to arrest me. I did not know my offence, the two police officers just told me that they have a warrant for my arrest with a charge of criminal intimidation and threat to life. But they did not tell me who I intimidated and threatened. There are two ASPs here, one of them is Patrick Ejoh. They said they were taking me to FCT state command.”

A bloody clash was recently averted at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja as members of the ACN led by Melaye and a group of youths allegedly sponsored by  Oduah, demonstrated over the N255m car scam which was allegedly used to purchase bullet-proof armoured vehicles for the minister.

During the confrontation, Melaye and his men were held hostage for about 50 minutes by a team of 200 riot policemen led by one ASP Sunday Odukoya, who wanted to arrest the anti-Oduah protesters on claims of obstruction of traffic and disturbance of public peace.