Offa Bank Robbery: Kwara Not Involved In Suspects’ Arraignment—AG, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN

KWARA state government has said that it was not involved in
arraignment of five of the suspected Offa bank armed bandits in
Ilorin last week Tuesday.

It is recalled that daredevil armed robbers had invaded the
ancient town of Offa, Offa local government area of the state on
April 5, 2018, killing many people and carting unspecified amount
of money.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin at the weekend, Kwara state
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kamaldeen Ajibade
(SAN), said that the arraignment was strange to the state
government, adding that no one was carried along, insisting that
the police was yet to submit documents necessary for the state
government to prosecute the robbery suspects.

It was gathered that five of the suspects were arraigned before
an Ilorin Magistrate Court last Tuesday; few hours after Ajibade
had accused the police of deliberate falsehood on claims that the
trial of the accused was being delayed by the state.

A total of 13 suspects had earlier been arrested over the
incident with the police giving details of the alleged involvement
of each during their parade at the force headquarters, Abuja. The
suspects brought before the court were Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle
Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.
However, Michael Adikwu, the retired police constable who was said
to have confessed to being the mastermind of the bloody operation
was not in court during the arraignment.

“We were not involved; we can’t arraign any of them without the
case diary”, Ajibade told our reporter on phone, adding that the
police might have quickly rushed to the court following his own
earlier statement over the matter and in order to secure a remand
order against the accused.

“Once we get the files from the police we will arraign them
before the high court which is the proper place, but now we don’t
even know who and who they brought to court, we are surprised why
they have to make what looks like a midnight arraignment”, he
said.

The suspects were brought before Magistrate Bio Saliu on the
offences of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to
section 6 (b) of the Armed robbery and firearms (Special Provision)
Act Cap R11 LFN 2004 and culpable homicide punishable with death
contrary to section 221 of Penal Code.

The police First Information Report (FIR) alleged that on 5th
April 2018, a group of dare-devil armed bandits invaded the Offa
community adding that the bandits killed nine serving police
officers, looted the Offa Police Divisional Armoury and carted away
21 AK 47 rifles and several other ammunition.

The FIR further stated that the robbers took to the street of
the community shooting sporadically thereby killing 21 innocent
Nigerians and were also alleged to have raided six (6) financial
institutions; First Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, Zenith Bank,
Eco-Bank, Union Bank and Micro Finance Bank before leaving the town
where they carted away huge sum of money.

The FIR noted that efforts of the Inspector-General of Police
Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by DCP Abba Kyari and other
arms of the Force resulted in the arrest of the suspects and
indicated that during the investigation the suspects confessed to
have participated in the robbery while some of the weapons used
were recovered from them.

The items included two AK 47 rifle, one Lexus RX 300 Jeep with
reg. No (Kwara) 143 RM, one Mercedes-Benz compressor with reg. No
LT 496 KJA and four phones belonging to victims of the incident.
The FIR added that investigation is still going on to ensure the
arrest of other suspects who are at large and to recover the stolen
arms and ammunition, the looted money from the banks as well as
unravelling the sponsors of the deadly attack.

The prosecutor team, led by OC Legal, however asked for
adjournment on the basis that the offences alleged to have been
committed by the accused persons are capital in nature and he would
need to contact the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Barr
Mumini Adebimpe to file appropriate charges against the accused
persons before the State High Court.

He said, “On this note, we shall be asking that the accused
persons be remanded in prison custody pending when appropriate
charges are filed against the accused persons at the High
Court”.

Counsel to the accused, Abdulrasheed Lawal told the court that
he would file all necessary processes related to the matter in
order to move the motion for their bail.

In his ruling, the magistrate noted that the matter can only be
tried at the High court hence he refused to take the plea of the
accused while the case was adjourned till November 14, 2018 for
mention.

Niger Gov Commissions Hostel for Boy
Soldiers

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has said that
solution to the nation’s security challenges requires collective
and all stakeholders approach.

He also stressed the need for Community Policing, in order to
checkmate the pockets of security challenges, especially in the
rural areas.

He said this after commissioning of a block of 20 room hostel he
donated to his alma matar, the Nigerian Military School, Zaria,
Kaduna State, shortly after Passing out Parade of 77 Regular
Recruits Intake, 77RRI of the Depot, Nigerian Army.

The Governor who is an EX- BOY( EX-BOYS are those who attended
Nigerian Military School as Boy Soldiers) was accompanied by the
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusufu Buratai at the
commissioning, stressed that for a lasting solution to the nation’s
security challenges, all hands must be on deck.

According to him, “security is everybody’s responsibility now.
It is not just for the police or army or any security agency alone.
Everybody and indeed our traditional institutions should be up and
doing.
” Nigerians also need to be vigilant, especially those in the rural
areas . It is necessary to know who are the people coming into our
communities and from where they were before settling in our
communities”.

The Governor said the need for collective efforts in attending
to the country’s security challenges has further strengthened the
call for Community Policing, especially as an effective platform
for nipping the pockets of security challenges in our rural
areas.

“As a governor, I have found out that Community Policing is
required to nip the activities of miscreants formenting security
challenges in our communities in the bud.

“Community Policing is very important, it has been found to be a
reliable source of providing necessary information and intelligent
gathering by security agencies for effective security of our
communities,” Governor Sani Bello maintained.

Elated that he was able to give back to his former school, Gov.
Sani-Bello urged other old boys of the school to come to the aid of
the center of academic excellence.

“We are happy to have been able to give this little (hostel
block) back to the school. I appeal to other ex-boys to come to the
aid of the school. We owe this school for the positive impact it
had on us”, the governor appealed.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai commended
the efforts of Gov. Sani-Bello in donating the block hostel to the
school.

Earlier at the passing out parade of about four thousand
recruits, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai
said that the recruits are coming at the right time to fill the
manpower shortage at a critical time the country is faced with
security challenges.

Also with Gov Sani-Bello were Chief of Staff, Hon Mikhail Almin
Bmitosahi, Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Zakari Abubakar, some
of classmates at NMS and associates among others.

Jibrin Baba Ndace
Chief Press Secretary
27th October 2018