Dino Melaye Was Impeached, He Lied About Being SUG President – Schoolmate

Senator Dino Melaye was impeached as the president of the Geography Students Association of the Ahmadu Bello University, a schoolmate of his has confirmed.

Melaye, according to his schoolmate, Mr Abdussobur Salaam, also lied about being the president of the ABU student union.

Salam said the SUG was proscribed when they were in school.

Salaam, who works at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), spoke at the weekend against the backdrop of the certificate controversy in which the senator is currently embroiled.

He said: “We (Dino and I) were admitted the same year, initially into the same faculty of FASS, and given that our courses were four years, we ought to have graduated same year.

“However, recalling how studentship in ABU was that period, you could never be too sure of the academic status of any ‘student’. What do I mean? We had ‘students’ who were always around, attended lectures, participated in all student activities, were allocated hostel space, were always holding files and feigning academic seriousness, only for an issue to come up and you would find out that despite your having known them for years, they were never students but just lived pseudo student lives!”

“Dino and I are supposed to be ‘friends’ but differences never permitted while we were in school. Till date, we communicate once in a while, but I dare say he is the architect of his problems.

“If they were never discovered, 20 years time, if a controversy arose as to their status, one would swear confidently that the person graduated! While this is not exactly the same with Dino, you cannot be too sure until facts are unearthed.

“I know for a fact that we were admitted together. I am aware that he was very active in student political circles, though he has attempted to insinuate that he was SUG president to shore up his political profile. Unfortunately, during our time, under the reign of Uncle K, (General Kontagora as Sole Administrator) the student Union was proscribed, so that claim cannot stick! He lied on that!

“As President of Geography students, I am aware that he was impeached. I also know that he had fraud related issues with the Kogi State Students Association and Segun Halilu personally had lamented to me about this, then.

“I remember that he wanted to join the OAU students club then, and we blocked his membership, knowing his tendencies to cause confusion and take over the structure of the club for personal ends”.

“On his status as a graduate, only the records can tell. For all you know, he may have had a few unresolved carry-overs. Knowing Dino, he may have bluffed, paid or manipulated the system to ensure those records are obliterated.

“If not, recall that given the circumstances of our year set, many concessions/ waivers were given to ensure that we graduated, having spent almost double the statutory length of years we should spend. Dino may just have been such a beneficiary of waivers. It is however not our place to tell, but the truth will unfold itself.”