Adelani Adepegba, Abuja
The International Police have yet to declare Senator Dino Melaye wanted, 72 hours after the Nigeria Police Force claimed that the lawmaker and seven other suspects were now on the red notice of the global police organisation.
The profiles and pictures of the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District and the other suspects were conspicuously missing on the Interpol website when our correspondent visited the wanted persons’ section on Friday.
Out of the 113 wanted persons featured on the platform, only one fugitive, Festus Chinedu, 32, is a Nigerian.
He is wanted by the Uruguayan authorities for drugs trafficking and participating in a criminal organisation.
It was gathered that the NPF most likely had not made a formal request to the National Central Bureau of Interpol in Nigeria domiciled at the Force headquarters, Abuja, to declare Melaye and the other fleeing suspects wanted, contrary to the statement by the erstwhile Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Ali Janga.
Janga was fired by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, following the escape of six suspects from custody on Wednesday.
The suspects — Kabiru Seidu, aka Osama; Nuhu Salisu, aka Small; Aliyu Isa; Adams Suleiman; Emmanuel Audu; and Musa Mohammed, reportedly escaped on Wednesday morning despite being guarded by 13 policemen at the ‘A’ Division, Lokoja, where the incident occurred.
The police had alleged that Melaye contracted Seidu and his gang as political thugs, adding that the lawmaker met with the suspects on Airport Road, Abuja inside the senator’s car in December 2017.
Seidu was said to have confessed to the police investigative team that Melaye handed over a bag containing an AK-47 rifle, two pump-action guns and N430, 000.00 to share with his boys.
Shortly before he was removed, the Kogi CP had in a statement declared the fugitives wanted, including Melaye and Mohammed Audu, noting that they were now on the red notice of the Interpol.
“Consequently, all the six suspects, Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu were sent for watch list and red notice by the Interpol for immediate arrest anywhere we see them,” the CP stated.
The police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, could not be reached for comment on efforts to apprehend Melaye and his accomplices, as he did not respond to calls to his phone.
He had yet to respond to an SMS seeking his comment on the issue as of the time of filing this report.
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