Police arrests Dino Melaye during protest over N255m cars, allows pro-Oduah group to leave
The
police have arrested the Executive Director, Anti-Corruption Network,
Dino Melaye, for calling for the sack of the Minister of Aviation, Ms.
Stella Oduah, over the purchase of two BMW armoured cars.
Ms. Oduah allegedly compelled the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to buy her two bullet-proof BMW cars, worth $1.6m (about N255m).
Dino led a group of protesters to the Federal Secretariat, Abuja,
just before noon. However, there was a hilarious drama at the scene of
the protest as another group emerged from nowhere, protesting in favour
of the Minister, and to counter the protest staged by the Dino’s group.
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.
But Melaye said he should be arrested instead, being the leader of the group.
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.”
Melaye and others were later arrested by the police and whisked away in a Toyota Hilux van, marked NPS 21280 at about 1pm.
Ms. Oduah allegedly compelled the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to buy her two bullet-proof BMW cars, worth $1.6m (about N255m).
Dino led a group of protesters to the Federal Secretariat, Abuja,
just before noon. However, there was a hilarious drama at the scene of
the protest as another group emerged from nowhere, protesting in favour
of the Minister, and to counter the protest staged by the Dino’s group.But Melaye said he should be arrested instead, being the leader of the group.
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.”
Melaye and others were later arrested by the police and whisked away in a Toyota Hilux van, marked NPS 21280 at about 1pm.
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