Investigate leaked bribery tape on Dino, Lawyers tell FG

Agroup of lawyers in Kogi State has called on the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, to direct relevant agencies to investigate the recently released audio tape by Sahara TV, concerning Senator Dino Melaye and the Chairman of the 2015 National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kogi, Justice Akon Ikpeme.

An audio tape released recently by the online medium, Sahara TV, which has gone viral on social media indicated an alleged conversation concerning bribery between Dino Melaye and Justice Akon Ikpeme.

The lawyers under the aegis of Coalition of Concerned Lawyers of Kogi State, at a news conference in Lokoja, said the investigation was imperative because the released audio tape indicated that Melaye was “living on a stolen mandate”.

Coordinator of the group, Barrister Dare Zaccheus said, “corrupting the judiciary is the worst form of corruption that anyone can ever think of; it is totally unacceptable. We want Melaye to show reason why the electorate of Kogi-west senatorial district should not recall him.

“We, the concerned lawyers are calling on the acting president to order the police, the EFCC, the DSS, Anthony General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), and other security apparatus to as a matter of urgency begin immediate investigation to establish the genuineness of that audio tape, and if it leads to the commission of the offences of bribery and corruption, then Dino and the tribunal chairman should be compelled to face the full wrath of the law.

“We want the relevant stakeholders to call for the establishment of this link and come up with their position on it. Since the government is trying its best to sanitise the judiciary; this will definitely lead to a great feat. We, therefore, urge all the relevant agencies saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring justice and fairness to all, to investigate this matter and ensure that anyone found guilty faces the consequences of his or her actions”, the group said.

The group also enjoined Senator Dino Melaye to react to the allegation.

Responding , Senator Dino Melaye said, “they should write the police. My time is not for hired guns. My case did not end in the tribunal. I went to the Appeal Court. Is the innocent woman also the judge? Every lie has an expiry date. No blackmail will stop me from speaking the truth.”