Dino Melaye, a senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, on Thursday, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, that he was injured and could not stand in the dock to continue his trial.
The senator is facing six-count criminal charges bordering on attempted suicide, attempt to escape from police custody, damage to police property, mischiefs, and a threat to public servants.
The trial judge had at the last sitting on May 28, 2019, adjourned the case to September 12, 18 and October 3, 2019, for the continuation of hearing and examination of witnesses by the defence counsel.
However, at the resumed hearing of the suit, the lawmaker, who was “assisted” into the courtroom by two of his aides said he could not walk alone.
Counsel to the defendant, Benson Igbanoi, who held the brief of Mike Ozekhome, SAN, informed the trial court that Melaye was injured in the last governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conducted in Lokoja, Kogi state last week.
He said unknown gunmen invaded the stadium, venue of the primary and shot sporadically, making people, including Melaye to scamper for safety.
The counsel said Melaye sustained an injury on his leg and could barely walk, this, he said this made it nearly impossible for him to enter his vehicle without help, let alone stand in the dock.
The defendant prayed the court for a longer adjournment to allow him to recuperate from his injured leg so as to enable him to continue his trial and present his witnesses.
The prosecutor had before closing their case presented three witnesses; which include the driver, and two other police officers who were accompanying him to Lokoja from Abuja when he made a forceful escape from the police van.
The judge, Justice Sylvester Orji, in his ruling agreed to the defendant’s plea and adjourned further hearing of the suit to October three and ten, 2019 for the defendant to open and close his case.
But it was however surprising that after the ruling, the lawmaker quickly got up and walked out of the courtroom with smile without being assisted.
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