A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, on Thursday said Senator Dino Melaye’s ordeal is a reflection of the suffering of ordinary Nigerians in the hands of security agents on a daily basis.

Falana, who is a human rights lawyer made the assertion while lambasting the Nigeria Police for arraigning the senator representing Kogi-west senatorial district in court on a stretcher.

He said the degrading and humiliating treatment meted out to Melaye was a violation of his fundamental human right.

Falana said,

“The arraignment of Senator Dino Melaye on a stretcher in Abuja on Wednesday and Lokoja on Thursday morning is unacceptable in a civilised society.

“It is particularly degrading and humiliating as it violates the fundamental right to the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the constitution and Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.”

He called on the National Assembly to prevail on security agencies to change their modus operandi, noting that the lawmakers should also pay attention to the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), who have both remained in custody for close to three years despite being granted bail by competent courts.

Falana said,

“Even though the senator has my sympathy, it is indistinguishable that he has only been given a little dose of the humiliating treatment that is daily meted out to the flotsam and jetsam of our unjust society by the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

“Therefore, the senator’s case should not be treated in isolation by the Senate and the bourgeois media. While the solidarity of the federal legislators with Senator Melaye is understandable, the tragic turn of events calls for sober reflection.”

However, the House of Representatives had issued a stern warning to security agencies, especially the police over Melaye’s life.

Melaye was reportedly brought to the court from Abuja to Lokoja on Thursday in a police ambulance.

The senator was wheeled into the courtroom on a stretcher to stand trial for gunrunning allegations levelled against him by the police.

Melaye was, however, remanded in police custody till June 11.