Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West has dared online news platform, SaharaReporters to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria, threatening that its founder, Omoyele Sowore will go to jail.
Melaye’s unprofessional reaction follows an exposé by SaharaReporters that the former House of Representatives member opened a ban account with the Bank of America in the United States.
“I dare Sahara to register with corporate Affairs commission. Sowore’s jail term will be longer than that of a monkey in the zoo,” Melaye wrote on Twitter.
I dare Sahara to register with corporate Affairs commission. Sowore's jail term will be longer than that of a monkey in the zoo.
— Otunba Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) December 6, 2015
Melaye’s operation of the foreign account while he is an elected public officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a violation of the Nigerian law. The breach could cost him his seat at the Nigerian Senate if he is successfully prosecuted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal which is currently trying Senate President Bukola Saraki, a close associate of Mr. Melaye’s.
According to SaharaReporters, Melaye, who once styled himself an anti-corruption activist, opened two accounts–one a current account, the other a savings account–in the name of “Daniel Din Melaye,” posing as a student.
FLASH: @dino_melaye Bank of America check book, account numbers and statements pic.twitter.com/iwDihyrtFm
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 6, 2015
SaharaReporters learnt that, by leaving the impression of himself as a student, Senator Melaye was able to open a “CampusEdge” current account with account number 4460 1649 8396 and a regular savings account with account number 4460 1647 5966 with Bank of America in the state of Maryland.
FLASH: SMS sent to @dino_melaye from Bank of America notifying him of transactions per debit card on Sept 1 2015 pic.twitter.com/dXNLdwc2kR
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 6, 2015
Senator Melaye obtained a bank debit card with account number ending with #8873. It is the senator’s transactions with the debit card that gave away him away as the owner of the accounts.
One of Melaye’s last transactions on the account took place on December 4th as he approved payment for a transaction relating to the purchase of cosmetics from a Kremlin-based MagnitKosmetik store. Also, on September 1, Melaye approved payment to a New York-based Schweiger Dermatology.
FLASH: @dino_melaye Bank of America SMS account alert shows debit card is being used outside the US today pic.twitter.com/dsiVKjF3kp
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 6, 2015
