Melaye’s accusers recant

The two prime suspects who allegedly implicated Senator Dino Melaye in the alleged criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms and illegal arms dealing, yesterday, declared that the allegations were false.
The suspects, Kabiru Seidu, aka “Osama”, 31 and Nuhu Salihu, aka “Small”, 25 appeared before a Senior Magistrate’s Court in Lokoja yesterday along with Melaye where they declared that the allegations were false and that they were not guilty, when their pleas were taken.
According to the prosecution, led by Dr Alex Izinyon, the offences are contrary to Section 97(1) of the Penal Code and Section 27(1)(a) (1) of the Firearms Act CAP P28 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
When the charges were read afresh to the defendants, Melaye as well as Seidu and Salihu, pleaded not guilty as they said the seven charges were all false.
After the pleas were take and the defendants pleaded not guilty, Izinyon applied for the leave of the court to have prosecuting witnesses to have their depositions forwarded to the defence.
Mr Yemi Mohammed Esq., who held brief for Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), counsel for the 3rd defendant(Melaye) objected to the application, saying that the case was a criminal one in which witnesses must give their testimonies in the open court.
Melaye’s counsel said the front-loading system the prosecution wasurging the court to adopt amounted to a short cut that would be prejudicial to his client and reduce the chances of the public getting to know the truth.
According to him, “It amounts to closure of the trial by about 50 per cent.
Justice is a three way traffic – the prosecutor, the accused and the society and that is why trials are done in the open court.” In his ruling, the Senior Magistrate, Mr Sulyman Abdullah, said he would “wholeheartedly” want trials in his court to be concluded speedily but he would have to look at the rules of the court.
Abdullah said “Where they are no such rules, I will look at the provisions of Section 479(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Kogi State.
“This is a case that this court will appreciate that everyone put what they have on the table.
I am not comfortable with sworn depositionsreplacing oral testimonies of witnesses.
“The application of the prosecution is refused and I want this trial to be concluded in the normal ways trials are done and will be ready to take evidence day-to-day if need be.” He adjourned the case till July 26, for commencement of hearing.