Melaye: Dogara Cautions Police, Health First

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has urged the police to prioritise the health and safety of Senator Dino Melaye, who is in their custody.

Mr Dogara stated this on Thursday during plenary while responding to a point of order raised by Sunday Karimi (PDP, Kogi) who urged the house to intervene in the senator’s ordeals with the law.

Mr Dogara, while admitting that nobody is above the law, however said that he had not seen any country where anybody ”had been arraigned in court on a stretcher.”

“I have not seen in any country where someone is arraigned in court on stretchers when he or she is not fit to plead guilty or not guilty. If anything happens to him, (Dino) the responsibility will be on the security agency,” Mr Dogara said.


Mr Karimi said Mr Melaye is being persecuted for his political beliefs and that it could happen to any lawmaker.

He appealed to the House to look at the issue and make sure due process is followed, a prayer which the Speaker said is being handled by the Senate.