The prosecution alleged that the senator sat on the ground, holding a substance in one hand, threatening to drink same to kill himself so that he can put police officers in trouble.
He was further alleged to have broken the glass of the Toyota Hiace in which he was being conveyed to Lokoja with his elbow and caused damage to police property.
These, the prosecution said contravened the provisions of Sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code.
Melaye, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Before the prosecution closed it case against the defendant on March 17, 2022, it called five witnesses and tendered 10 exhibits to rove its case against the defendant.
Melaye, through his counsel, Professor Mike Ozekhome SAN, however, filed a no-case submission.
Justice Oriji upheld the former senator’s no-case submission on two of the counts against him: threat to injure public officers and attempt to commit suicide and ordered him to entered his defence on the remaining four counts.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Oriji held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against Melaye in the remaining four counts.
He subsequently discharged and acquitted Melaye, holding that, “The verdict of the court is that the defendant is not guilty of the charges in courts 1,3,4 and 6.
“The defendant, Senator Dino Melaye is discharged and acquitted.”
This legal saga began in February 2018 when Melaye faced accusations of falsely implicating Edward Onoja, the then-chief of Staff, to Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the assassination plot.
Taking to social media platform X on Monday to celebrate the verdict, Melaye expressed his gratitude towards his legal team and emphasised his unwavering faith in divine justice.
“I take life as it comes, but in all the vicissitudes of life, I trust in God only. He is always with the just,” he stated.
In his post, he also noted, “Justice served after six years. Justice delayed is never justice denied. God alone be praised. SEN. DINO MELAYE 12 – FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IGP 0. 12 CASES ALL WON BY GOD.”
The initial case regarding the alleged assassination attempt saw delays, including the unfortunate passing of Justice Aromeh Benson Akogu, the judge overseeing the matter, during a cross-over service on December 31, 2017.
The Attorney General’s Office formally charged Melaye on January 31, 2018, claiming his allegations were unfounded, stemming from an investigation into the supposed assassination attempt at his hometown in Ayetoro-Gbede, Kogi State.
He pleaded not guilty on March 1, 2018.
Again, in July 2018, Melaye accused the Kogi State police command of attempting to kill him.
He made this accusation in response to claims that his security details had shot at policemen conducting ‘stop and search’ operations in Mopa.
In March 2019, Melaye again alleged a conspiracy against his life by the Kogi State government, which the state authorities denied.