An anti-corruption group, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Senator Dino Melaye, over his opulent lifestyle.

Melaye, who is known for his ostentatious lifestyle and love of exotic automobiles, is a senator representing Kogi West at the National Assembly.

According to a petition signed by the Chairman of CSNAC, Olanrewaju Suraju, to the EFCC, the group urged the anti-graft agency to probe Melaye as his lifestyle isn’t proportional to his earning as a lawmaker.

“In its report of July 31st, 2015, SaharaReporters, an online newspaper, said that Senator Dino Melaye purchased a home in Abuja estimated at a whopping 1.3 billion Naira (6.5 million US dollars). The said property which is located at 11 Sangha Street, off Mississippi Street, in the Maitama upscale neighborhood of the city, boasts leafy trees, ornate Roman-style columns, and decadent chandeliers hanging from its high ceilings. According to the report, the property is currently undergoing some renovations with an indoor swimming pool.”

“When asked by a SaharaReporters correspondent about his source of money for the payment of his luxurious house, the only response offered was, “I am a distinguished member of the Federal government. When further prodded by the correspondent that his assets were a matter of public interest, the question was ignored.”

“This is also coupled with the fact that Senator Melaye’s consistent presence in the entourage of Toyin Saraki (wife of Senate President Bukola Saraki) as she faced corruption investigations at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has continued to arouse the curiosity of right thinking Nigerians.”

“It is trite that the Commission is empowered by the provision of Section 7(1) (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 which states as follows:

“Cause investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the Commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.”

“As a public officer, his assets are a matter of public interest. His obscene public display of wealth not supported by any other known means of livelihood is not justified by the allowances of a public officer.”

“Therefore, he should be made to justify these rapacious and brazen accumulation to the EFCC. With the prevailing rate of crimes and criminality, involving highly placed personalities and political office holders, no person or individual should be considered sacred.”

CSNAC is therefore by this petition requesting the Commission to invoke its powers under Section 6(h) of the aforementioned Act:

“To launch an investigation into this matter by inviting Senator Dino Melaye to give a detailed explanation of the source(s) of income utilized in the finance and acquisition of his various expensive assets. More importantly, to clear any form of speculation that his assets might have been acquired through activities in contravention of any financial law(s) in Nigeria.”

Mazi Emeka