The police have directed Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Ben Murray-Bruce to report to the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, Garki, by 10 am on Monday (today) for protesting alongside others in Abuja on Friday against the outcome of the Osun governorship election.
The force stated that preliminary investigation into the protest indicated that Melaye and Murray-Bruce were captured on camera engaging in public disturbance and unlawful blockade of Shehu Shagari Way which grounded vehicular traffic for hours.
The police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, alleged that the two senators were seen violently attacking policemen at the entrance to the force headquarters in a bid to gain access into the building.
The Peoples Democratic Party leaders, including Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; former Niger State Governor and presidential aspirant, Sule Lamido; and others had participated in the protest which ended abruptly after policemen tear-gassed them.
Shortly after the protesters were dispersed, Moshood had in a statement summoned Saraki, Melaye and Murray-Bruce to appear for investigation for “disturbing public peace and violently hitting policemen to forcefully enter the force headquarters, Abuja.”
He said the Inspector-General of Police had directed an investigation into the “unprovoked and unwarranted attack on the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.”
But Moshood in his latest statement omitted Saraki among those invited for questioning, noting that further investigation would determine the involvement and culpability of other individuals seen at the scene of the crime.
He said, “Preliminary investigation carried out so far by the police into the incident revealed that Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Ben Murray-Bruce were captured on camera for their active involvement in the disturbance of public peace and public safety, unlawful blockade of Shehu Shagari Way for several hours.”
The force stated that the “invitation letters to Melaye and Murray-Bruce to report to the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, had been sent to them for compliance,” noting that the command had the statutory jurisdiction to investigate the matter.
