Nigerian Senator Dino Melaye and his many scandals

A controversial Nigerian senator is currently in detention at an Abuja hospital after allegedly jumping out of a police van to try and escape custody. The incident is the latest in a series of scandals linked to the colourful politician, Dino Melaye. Senator Dino Melaye and singer Kach

The chain of events that led to Mr Melaye's exit from a police vehicle, through its window, began in mid-March.

That month, the police arrested two members of an armed gang. Kabiru Saidu, also known as Osama, and Nuhu Salisu, nicknamed "Small", confessed to taking part in a number of kidnappings and armed robberies. They also accused Senator Melaye, 44, of supplying them with money and weapons - charges he denied.

As a result, the police declared that Mr Melaye was wanted on a charge of supplying illegal arms to his political supporters, and they even said they had asked the international police agency Interpol to issue a warrant for his arrest in case he tried to flee the country.

However, the senator remained at large, his security detail was not removed by the police in the capital, his name does not appear on the Interpol Red Notice site - and he even posted a photo of himself on Instagram shaking the hand of a policeman:

He was eventually arrested at Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport international airport on his way to Morocco.

Mr Melaye's team says he was pushed out of the vehicle the following day and that the arrest was politically motivated.

News of his alleged jump, or push, trended on Twitter shortly afterwards.

But this is not the first time Mr Melaye has rocked social media.

Police and Dino — Image captionSenator Melaye was either pushed, or jumped, from the vehicle via its window

The music video

Senator Melaye clearly loves the finer things in life. His Instagram profile features pictures of him posing in designer boutiques wearing bright coloured trainers and tight jeans, or in front of a row of luxury cars.

This opulent lifestyle has on occasion landed him in hot water.

He was criticized late last year after making a cameo in a music video of Nigerian rapper Kach, who also happens to be the son of the country's oil minister, Ibe Kachikwu.

The video for the song, called Dino, features luxury cars, women in underwear, and $100 bills being thrown around. Mr Melaye is also seen stepping out of a sports car, wearing a T-shirt with the word "legend" written on it.

Some Nigerians criticised the senator on social media for the ostentatious display of wealth, particularly at a time when many civil servants in his home state of Kogi were owed several months' salaries.

The dark side

The online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, reported in March last year that Mr Melaye did not have a degree from Harvard University as he had previously claimed. He had only attended a week-long seminar at the elite US university.

Mr Melaye defended himself during a television interview, saying that anyone who had attended an institution and received a certificate was a graduate.

But there is a darker side to the allegations against Mr Melaye.

He first came to public attention in 2010 when as a House of Representative member he was suspended for taking part in a fist fight in the chamber during a move to impeach the then speaker.

In July 2016, during a closed-door session of the Senate, he allegedly threatened to beat up and "impregnate" female colleague Oluremi Tinubu on the senate floor.

By Mayeni JonesBBC Africa, Lagos