Dino Melaye regains freedom, praises FCT Police Command

The FCT Police Command, Wednesday evening released anti-corruption crusader, Dino Melaye, who was arrested during a protest against the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah over the alleged acquisition of two BMW bullet-proof cars, worth N255 million by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

While commending the Police authority over the mature way it handled the situation, Melaye had said that the Commissioner of Police in FCT was very civil and exhibited professionalism in the discharge of police duties. He said he was released at about 5:30pm, Wednesday evening, and was simply told by the Commissioner to go.

He said, “I was released about 5:30 pm; I was taken to the Department of Criminal Investigation, then taken back to the Commissioner of Police after keeping me for a while in the office of the Commissioner of Police (Operations).

“From there, I was moved to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (CID) and from there to the State Criminal Investigation Department; I was later transferred to CP.

“The man just said I should go. Nothing more, they didn’t ask me anything and that was all. He pleaded with me concerning the way the Area Commander treated me. I must confess that the CP in FCT was very civil and nice.” The police led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Sunday Olukoya, reportedly allowed the pro-Oduah protesters to leave, but stopped the bus conveying Melaye supporters, declaring that they were under arrest.

Malaye was arrested at noon yesterday while leading a group of protesters to the Aviation Ministry, calling for the sack of the Minister, Stella Uduah.

Shortly before his arrest, he said: “When the police pension fund was stolen, we protested on behalf of the police; we were not arrested. When we protested against the theft of fuel subsidy fund, we were not arrested.

“Now that we are protesting the theft of the nation’s money by the action of the Minister, who used Nigeria’s money to buy armoured cars in the midst of lack, we are under arrest. The money was not budgeted for, not appropriated.

“The protest affects everybody; the police are also affected because they are taxpayers. I’m also a taxpayer.”