There appears to be no letup in the confusion  surrounding Dino Melaye’s academic certificate and graduation despite the clean bill handed him by the Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba.
The VC said yesterday that the Kogi-West senator actually graduated in 2000 with a third class.
The poser now is whether the controversial lawmaker did his one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) before his graduation, as he tweeted last week with an accompanying photograph purportedly taken with others during his  service in Kaduna in 1999.
According to Prof. Garba who appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions yesterday,  Melaye earned a degree in Geography from the Faculty of Arts in 2000 as Daniel Jonah Melaye.
The Committee is also investigating the alleged importation of a N298 million bullet proof Ranger Rover Sport vehicle by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
The Senate, had a fortnight ago, referred the twin issues to the Ethics committee, following a point of order motion, raised by Senator Ali Ndume, that the issue be investigated to protect the integrity of the Senate.
Ruling on the issue, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, had urged the Ethics committee to investigate and report back within four weeks.
Melaye, the VC said, graduated and did his NYSC programme between 2000 and 2001 in Kaduna State.
Responding to a question from the Chairman of the committee, Samuel Anyanwu on whether Melaye graduated from his institution or not, the VC said: “From the records, I know Senator Dino Melaye who was formerly known as Daniel Jonah Melaye. He was a former student of the university. Yes, he graduated. From the records, Melaye graduated in the year 2000. I reaffirm that he graduated during the 1998-1999 session with a third class degree in Geography from the Faculty of Arts.”
Even as observers are asking: How could Dino have participated in the national youth service in 1999 when he graduated in 2000, the senator last night took to the social media to celebrate his victory and mock his accusers.
When the proceedings started, the petitioner, Senator Ali Ndume, was not on ground. Ndume who arrived the venue shortly before the VC completed during his presentation said: “I came here with my own certificate. I was here when the Vice Chancellor said that Melaye graduated from the school in 1999. I do not know how you can graduate in 2000, but went for your NYSC in 1999. I do not understand.”
Tendering different certificates to substantiate his claims that in deed he earned his degree, Melaye said: “I am a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University. I gained admission on the 6th of September, 1994 to study a degree in Geography, Faculty of Arts. After my graduation, the school sent my name to the NYSC in Kaduna, where I did my national service. I even won an award. The documents are here.”
When told by a  member of the committee, Matthew Urhoghide, representing Edo South that they could see statement of results with an affidavit and not the purported original degree from ABU, Melaye said he was yet to collect his original certificate. He revealed that he was ready to collect the original certificate within the week.
“What I have on my certificates is Jonah Daniel Melaye. I went to court to take an oath and did change of name. I am stating this under oath. I have an admission to study a masters degree in International Relations. I have an admission letter to study another masters degree.
“As I speak to you, I have not collected my original certificate from the university. Even as I speak, I have not collected my certificate of WAEC. What I declared missing was the statement of result and not the certificate. What I have with the National Assembly records is Daniel. That is why I will survive this lion’s den,” he said.
Explaining that the essence of the probe was to clear the air, Senator Tayo Alaosoadura, said the issue is raising dust because Melaye changed his name from Daniel Jonah Melaye to Dino Melaye.
“Those who are alleging are doing this because they believe you may not be the same person as Jonah Melaye,” he said.
Senator Anyanwu, added: “What is important is that you have your first degree and not whether you have masters. If we go through it, we can then call the Vice Chancellor of the university to confirm or deny. We have listened to you. We will also listen to the person who alleged. The practice is that a Senator should be tried secretly. But we decided to make it open in order to give the public the right impression that we have nothing to hide.
“We do not want you to be embarrassed by this whole thing or the fact that the media is here to cover it. We will also bring the Senate President here to respond to the allegations.”
Ndume who entered the investigative hearing room at about 1.48 pm.
Immediately he was administered his oath, he came under fire, when lawmakers started attacking him. He was questioned by lawmakers who sought to know why he decided to ridicule the Senate.
Ndume fought back and insisted that he did not write any petition, but only raised a point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to a newspaper publication.
“I did not petition. I only raised a point of order. That is Order 14 and 15. That is, when an issue about a lawmaker comes up, we have the right to bring it up. I made a request. The decision to bring this case before this committee is not my doing. It was the decision of the Senate. I did not expect that it will generate this kind of attention.
“I came here with my own certificate. I was here when the Vice Chancellor said that Melaye graduated from the school in 1999. I do not know how you can graduate in 2000, but went for your NYSC in 1999. I do not understand.”
Anyanwu corrected Ndume. He said the Vice Chancellor had already cleared the air on when Melaye graduated. He said contrary to Ndume’s claims, Melaye’s NYSC discharge certificate showed that he undergone the compulsory one year national programme in 2000, after his graduation.
“You said you did not write any petition, but only raised a point of order. Did you as a Senator do any due diligence before you brought the case before the Senate?” Anyanwu queried.
Ndume, again reacted: “That is not my job. That is the job of the committee. I only raised a point of order…I did not write this report.”
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi stepped in at this time and added his voice. He said: “When you make such a serious allegation, you must back it up. Let me read the discharge certificate of his NYSC to you. That is the certificate.”
Not ready to cave in, Ndume maintained: “I raised a point of order and it was referred to this committee. You have showed me the certificate and it has resolved the problem. It is not personal. If there is anything against the integrity of the Senate, it is our duty to clear it. What is the big deal.
Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Na’Allah, who doubles as vice chairman of the Ethics committee explained more: “It is not about the procedure or the contents of the complaints. You are aware that you are a former leader of the Senate. You are aware that the public, having formed an opinion, based on what you presented, that we clear this whole thing? I am sure we have cleared your mind since you have seen the discharge certificate. What will be your conclusion when you leave here?”
Ndume reacted: “Let me add that I called the attention of the Senate because I feel it is my responsibility to do that. I did not do it in isolation. It has happened before. It cannot be swept under the carpet. He has presented everything. What more do I have to say? What I did was to protect the integrity of the Senate.”
Explaining that the essence of the probe was to clear the air, Senator Tayo Alaosoadura, said the issue was raising dust because Melaye changed his name from Daniel Jonah Melaye to Dino Melaye.
“Those who are alleging are doing this because they believe you may not be the same person as Jonah Melaye,” he said.
Trouble began on Monday, March 20, 2017 when Sahara Reporters, in a tweet alleged that Melaye did not graduate from ABU for his first degree.
In a series of tweets, the online news medium, said some lecturers in the Geography Department insisted that Melaye did not graduate from the department and that his name was not on the graduation list because he failed five compulsory courses, an allegation Melaye dismissed. He  went ahead to challenge Sahara Reporters to sue him if it had authentic evidence to back its claims.
“Sahara Reporters, please sue me and ABU if it is true that I did not graduate from Zaria. Tell Magu (EFCC Chairman) to arrest and prosecute me.”
Melaye also boasted that he was currently a student in ABU pursuing his seventh degree.
He has instituted a N5 billion suit against the Sahara Reporters, even as the  medium has released fresh documents to back it claim that the senator did not graduate from ABU.