Kogi West Legislator Refutes Claims By ‘Sahara Liars’

By Adenike Lucas

Dino Melaye has strongly denied claims made by an online newspaper that he has no constituency office in Kogi West.

The outspoken lawmaker who continues to enjoy the support of his constituents, despite many attempts to portray him negatively, posted a picture of a building to his over 253K followers with a message: “Sahara liars take note.”

Sahara Reporters, a US based online newspaper claimed Senator Melaye “had no constituency office in the entire Kogi West that comprises Lokoja, Ijumu, Kaba/Binu, Koto/Karfi, Mopo/Amuro, Yagba East and Yagba West local government areas.”

Senator Melaye refuted the claim via his twitter handle @dino_melaye. He posted pictorials of the Kogi West Senatorial Office in Kabba, which he said would “be completed in January.”

The former Ahmadu Bello University student who was awarded senator of the year said “everyone is aware this office complex is making progress.”

He noted that while the building work was taking place, a temporary office could be found in Kabba and Lokoja.

After refuting the allegation, Senator Melaye, known for being witty, accused Sahara Reporters of using his name to attract publicity.

Others accused the news outlet for targeting the lawmaker because he had spoken out against the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu, as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The Senate member representing Kogi-West had also been against Mr Magu’s arrest of a popular blogger, Abubakar Abusidiqu Usman, who published articles written by Adenike Lucas, the editor of this blog.

On Thursday, 15, December, the Senate rejected the nomination of Mr Magu based on an indicting report it received from the Director General of the Department of State Security, DSS.

Miss Lucas has had the privilege of speaking to so many EFCC staffers and has exposed many act of corruption perpetuated by Mr Magu in several publication which dates over seven months ago.

The DSS report written by Lawal Musa Daura confirmed the allegation many staff had made to this blog about Mr Magu.

In one of the publication, Miss Lucas accused two online media of working for Mr Magu in tarnishing the image of those working against his confirmation.

EFCC staff say: “Those sympathetic to Mr Magu acknowledged the one and the same attribute of the DSS report which is that ‘Mr Magu Failed Integrity Test.'”

They say President Muhammadu Buhari “must not allow himself to be decieved by the arrest and recovery gimmick, and claims of ‘corruption fighting back.’

“PMB must not ignore the fact that Mr Magu is not fit, otherwise he would be accused of having double standards.”

A legislator from Borno who held a meeting with Mr Magu, days before the confirmation has been accused of working against the people.

On December 13, reporters from DENISAURUS Newspaper published a report on the SECRET MEETING AT SENATOR Mohammed Ali Ndume’s HOUSE

Senator Ali Ndume claims that the Senate did not reject Mr Magu’s confirmation, but the official senate spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi dismissed such claims, maintaining that Mr Magu had been rejected.

The staff challenged “anyone with allegation of corruption against Senator Melaye, to bring it forward, or forever remain silence.”