Former Senator Dino Melaye has been acquitted in the twelfth and final case brought against him by the Federal Government.
This lengthy legal battle has spanned six years.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji delivered the verdict at the FCT High Court in Maitama, exonerating Melaye from two charges related to providing false information about an alleged assassination attempt on his life in 2017.
The legal issues began in February 2018 when Melaye was accused of falsely implicating Edward Onoja, the then-chief of staff to Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, in the assassination plot.
Celebrating the verdict on the social media platform X on Monday, Melaye expressed his gratitude to his legal team and emphasized his unwavering faith in divine justice.
“I take life as it comes, but in all the vicissitudes of life, I trust in God only. He is always with the just,” he stated.
In his post, he also noted, “Justice served after six years. Justice delayed is never justice denied. God alone be praised. SEN. DINO MELAYE 12 – FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IGP 0. 12 CASES ALL WON BY GOD.”
The initial case concerning the alleged assassination attempt faced delays, including the unfortunate death of Justice Aromeh Benson Akogu, the presiding judge, during a crossover service on December 31, 2017.
On January 31, 2018, the Attorney General’s Office officially charged Melaye, asserting that his claims were baseless and arose from an investigation into the purported assassination attempt in his hometown of Ayetoro-Gbede, Kogi State.
He entered a plea of not guilty on March 1, 2018.
Some other alleged assassination attempts
In July 2018, Melaye accused the Kogi State police command of attempting to assassinate him.
This allegation was made in response to reports that his security personnel had opened fire on policemen conducting ‘stop and search’ operations in Mopa.
In March 2019, Melaye reiterated his claims of a conspiracy against his life orchestrated by the Kogi State government, a charge that the state authorities denied.
Details later…