Police Threatens Dino Melaye With Criminal Defamatory Offence, Hate Speech Charge

The Nigeria police has threatened Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial zone in the red chamber of the National Assembly, with criminal defamatory offence and hate speech charge.

“Senator Dino Melaye is hereby called upon to know that his statement constitutes a criminal defamatory offence, hate speech and hateful conduct. He should however as a law maker be law abiding and desist from un-senatorial and lawless utterances that cannot be substantiated with facts.”

The police, in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, described Dino Melaye’s allegation that the police had planned to arrest him and inject him to death is a figment of his imagination, adding that the Inspector General of Police had never given such order.

“The Force is categorically stating that the statement is mischievous, malicious, capable of misleading the public and laughable. There was no such order from the Inspector General of Police or any plan by the Force to arrest Senator Dino Melaye and inject him to death but if the Senator knows he had committed any crime or he is aware of his involvement in any crime, he should come out and confess and face the legal consequences instead of whipping up sentiments to distract the public.

“The Force sees such defamatory, mischievous, malicious and reckless statement by Senator Dino Melaye as untrue, ridiculous, mischievous and unfortunate. Members of the public are hereby enjoined to disregard and discountenance the statement by Senator Dino Melaye in its entirety as untrue and mischievous.

“The Inspector General of Police will not be distracted by statements from the likes of Senator Dino Melaye but will continue to ensure that the rule of law prevails in all matters.”