Dino Melaye

Dino Melaye is a Nigerian politician, a Senator and was a member of the 8th Nigerian National Assembly, representing Kogi West Senatorial district. Dino is a member of the People’s Democratic Party. In 2015 he defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) but returned to PDP in the buildup to 2019 elections after months of political struggle with Kogi State governor. He was the Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. And briefly the Senate Committee Chairman on Aviation in Nigeria.

He seconded the nomination of Senator Bukola Saraki as candidate for the office of President of the Senate following a nomination made by Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima. He was re-elected on 23 February, 2019 to return as senator representing kogi-West senatorial district to be a member of the 9th Senate. His main challenger in the election, Sen Adeyemi of the APC approached Election Petitions Tribunal asking the tribunal to annul the election of Melaye. On August 23, 2019 the tribunal sacked Melaye and ordered a re-run election. After several confrontations with the Federal Government and his State Government, Senator Dino Melaye lost his Appeal to retain his senatorial seat on 11 October, 2019 and a re-run election was immediately ordered to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC however moved for the election to be conducted on a later date from the State governorship election slated for 16 November, 2019; however, Senator Dino Melaye moved and petitioned INEC for his rerun election to be conducted on same day as the state governorship election. Reacting to a claim from Senator Dino that the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, is perfecting plans to rig the election in favor of his favorite candidate, Senator Smart Adeyemi.

Senator Dino Melaye with a margin of over 20,000 votes, lost to his political rival, Smart Adeyemi in an election that was later declared inconclusive by INEC due to violence and electoral irregularities in over 50 Polling Units in the senatorial district. A make-up Election was however fixed for 30th November 2019, after which it was alleged that Senator Dino Melaye was planning to boycott the election, but was however seen casting his vote on the election day.

Dino Melaye has also declared his intention to contest for the Kogi State gubernatorial election which would be held within the last quarter of 2019. On 3 September 2019, Senator Dino Melaye lost his gubernatorial ambition in a keenly contested primary election were he came third with a total of 70 votes behind Engr. Musa Wada who won with 748 votes.

As a senator, it was alleged that Melaye continued to operate a checking and savings account with a US bank, in violation of Nigeria law, a report he has not denied. Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau prohibits the use of foreign accounts by elected and public officials.

One transaction on Melaye’s Bank of America debit card is an approved payment to the New York-based Schweiger Dermatology for $1,000. The company describes itself as a medical and cosmetic dermatology service offering a variety of skin healthcare needs.

Melaye had threatened to beat up Senator Oluremi Tinubu and ‘impregnate’ her on the floor of the Senate.

Melaye further said, "Spending over one billion naira tax payers money on an unproductive venture, when salaries and pensions have not been paid, is wicked. I will continue to defend the poor and defenseless masses of kogi state. If I die, I die. We must rescue the state." He was arrested 23 April 2018 on the international wing of Nnamdi azikiwe Airport by NIS as they claim his name was on the watch list of the interpol after the Nigeria police declared him wanted.

On 2 May, 2018 Senator Melaye was arraigned in court by the Police on Wednesday at Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Abuja. He was granted bail in the sum of N90million by the court, having met the bail condition but was rearrested by the police shortly after his release.

On 24 July, 2018 Melaye alongside 13 other Senators of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In Abuja on 5 January, Dino Melaye slumped after surrendering to the police.

Dino Melaye sponsored about 20 bills and moved over 30 motions in the 8th national assembly. One of such bills is "A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of a Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba. During his tenure his government provisions for its due management, administration and other related matters, 2017 (S.B. 402)" [[Listed Bills: www.nassnig.org/news/item/442. 6]].

In June 2017, a process to recall Senator Melaye from the National Assembly was kickstarted.

Melaye was involved in various certificates scandals in 2017 including his claim to have obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from Ahmadu Bello University and a degree from the Boston-based Ivy League Harvard University in the United States. Most of his claims have as yet not been verified. Melaye insists on the truth of his claims. However, his colleague and former majority leader of his then political party (APC) Sen. Ali Ndume called for the senate to probe Melaye's claims. Melaye claims not only did he graduate legitimately from ABU Zaria, but also, he has successfully earned seven degrees from various institutions around the world, among them are Harvard University, Kennedy School for Educational Leadership and London School of Economics and Political Science; a claim that was since refuted by both institutions, with Harvard claiming Mr. Melaye only presented himself for a week long professional development course in late 2016. While LSE claimed there's no evidence on its database that Mr. Melaye ever Obtained any degree there.

In May 2016, Dino Melaye launched a book titled "Antidotes For Corruption: The Nigerian Story" which received backlash, given the perceived reputation of the author. The backlashes increased at the event as it was headed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan, who were both entangled in different corruption cases.

Dino Melaye was a member of the House of Representatives representing Kabba/Ijumu federal constituency. In the 2015 Senatorial election he was elected a member of the Senate of Nigeria from the Kogi-West.

Melaye has won several awards, including Best Honourable Representative of the Year by Global Youth Awareness and Development Initiative, Protector of the Youth P.D.P National Youth Vanguard, Epitome of Servant by National Association of Kogi State Students, Youth Libra for Award by the Visioners Club of Kogi State, the Great Motivator of Students by Nigerian Economic Student Association, Icon of Good Leadership by Kogi Peoples Forum, 2008 Diplomatic Member of the year by St Monica’s College Kabba and the most performed National Legislator by Vision 2020 Youth Group. Most vibrant Honourable member, Abuja merit Awards African Parliamentarian of the year 2005 in U.S.A. Melaye also won the 'Senator of the year' award in 2017 and 2018.

Dino Melaye was born in Kano State, Nigeria. He attended command and Air-force Secondary School, Kaduna for his secondary school education. He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he studied geography in 2000. He led the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and later became the Secretary General of African Youth Council and then that of the Commonwealth Youth Council. He was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo to chair the Presidential Advisory Council on Youths.

Other bills were passed by his government which was sponsored by him which include:" A Bill for the prohibition of persons from lynching, mob action and extrajudicial executions", retrieved 26/03/2019 It seeks to protect crime suspects from extrajudicial and summary executions by offering statutory protection. The disability integration bill, protection against domestic violence act are other bills sponsored by Sen. Melaye.