Submit yourself to the police for arrest without delay - Falana tells Senator Dino Melaye

Lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, calls on Senator Dino Melaye to end the drama at his residence by submitting himself to the police

- Falana says the police would have forcefully arrested the Melaye without laying any siege to his house but for the senator’s privileged position in the country

- The senior lawyer notes that the senator’s refusal to submit himself for investigation led to the six days siege by the police on his residence

Senator Dino Melaye has been advised by lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN), to submit himself to the police for arrest in order to end the six days siege on his residence.

The senior lawyer said by turning himself in, Melaye will end the drama and the unwarranted inconvenience to which his family and neighbours have been subjected in the past six days following the police siege on his residence.

Speaking on Thursday, January 3, Falana, urged the senator to turn himself in without further delay, The Nation reports.

“By politely requesting Senator Melaye to submit himself for arrest, the Nigeria Police Force has accorded him the special treatment that is normally reserved for Very Important Personalities (VIP’s) in Nigeria by security agencies,” the lawyer said.

He said the police would have forcefully arrested Melaye without laying any siege to his house but for senator’s privileged position in the country.

Falana said the senator’s refusal to submit himself for investigation led to the six days siege by the police at his residence with a view to effecting his arrest.

The lawyer dismissed Melaye’s claims that he refused to respond to the police invitation on the grounds that the permission of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, was not sought and obtained

Falana said the police do not need to obtain the permission of the president of the Senate or the speaker of the House of Representatives before arresting a member of the National Assembly who is alleged to have committed a criminal offence.

He said legislators are not entitled to immunity under section 308 of the constitution as they are liable to be arrested if found linked to an offence.

Meanwhile, the police was said to have deployed over 50 additional policemen around Melaye’s residence located on 11, Sangha Street, Off Mississippi, Maitama, FCT.