The Senator representing Kogi West, Senator
Dino Melaye, has been released from detention after he was initially detained by officials of the immigration service at the
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his way to Morocco.
Mr Melaye, who was arrested earlier today, said he was on his way to Morocco on an official assignment sponsored by the Nigerian government when he was held by security.
The arrest, which followed weeks of controversies between the senator and the police, generated widespread reaction Monday morning. While some welcomed it as deserving of a controversial lawmaker like Mr Melaye, others criticized the arrest as an act of executive recklessness.
Some of Mr Melaye’s colleagues at the Senate, like Ben Murray-Bruce, condemned his arrest and called on federal authorities to release him immediately.
His arrest was initially linked to the police, who have been on a manhunt for him for several weeks, and had declared the lawmaker wanted for his alleged links to violence in Kogi state.
The Nigeria police force have however,denied any connection with the arrest of the Senator.
The Immigration Service, who earlier confirmed Melaye’s arrest, said it was following instructions.
