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Offa Bank Robbery:How Police Tortured Us To Implicate Saraki killed Prime Suspect, Mike Adikwu-Accused Persons Reveal

Published

6 years ago

March 16, 2019

Eric

One of the five persons standing trial for last year’s bank robberies in Offa, Kwara State, Ayoade Akinnibosun, has told an Ilorin High Court that the police deliberately killed Michael Adikwu, a principal suspect and the mastermind behind the robberies, which claimed many lives.

Testifying before the court in a “trial within trial”, Ayoade also narrated how the police tortured him and asked him implicate Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Akinnibosun and two other accused, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham, alleged that they made their statements under duress.

Answering questions during cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mathias Emeribe, Ayoade, who is the first accused in the case, claimed Adikwu, who was the mastermind of the robberies, was shot dead by one Inspector Vincent attached to the Police Intelligence Response Team.

While being examined and cross-examined by their counsel, Emeribe, and the prosecution counsel, Razaq Gold, they alleged that they were tortured and threatened by the police to make their confessional statements.

The prosecution witness, Inspector Hitila Hassan, on Thursday told the court that the suspects voluntarily made their statements under his supervision.

Lead prosecuting counsel, Prof Wahab Egbewole, sought to tender the statements as exhibits but Emeribe objected.

Emeribe argued that the accused did not volunteer their statements which the prosecution wanted to tender before the court, noting that they fell short of the provisions of the Evidence Act, particularly sections 28 and 29.

At the resumed hearing on Friday, Akinnibosun said, “Abba Kyari told me to say that the Senate President Bukola Saraki gave me the guns we used for the operations. But I declined.

“He (Abba Kyari) promised that they would reward me handsomely and set me free if I could implicate Saraki. When I disagreed, they asked some policemen to take me back to the cell. During this time, my hands were tied to my legs.”

The suspect said he was the leader of Kwara South Liberation Movement mobilising young jobless graduates for the representative of Kwara South at the Senate, Dr Rafiu Ibrahim.

The trio also claimed Inspector Vincent shot dead five Fulani men when they were kept at the IRT ‘theatre room’.

They added that it was in the same ‘theatre room that Inspector Vincent, popularly known as Mr Torture, allegedly shot dead Adikwu for failing to indict them.

Ogunleye said “they brought the late Adikwu to implicate us and he said he had not met any of us in his life – that was why Mr Torture shot him to death.”

The trial Judge, Justice Halimat Salman, adjourned the case till March 25, 2019 for the continuation of trial within trial.

Featured

Fubara Bows to Pressure, Invites Pro-Wike awmakers to Peace Meeting

Published

4 days ago

March 10, 2025

Eric

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara has extended an olive branch to lawmakers loyal to his rival, Nyesome Wike.

The governor invited the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly members to a peace meeting, following the Supreme Court’s judgement on the state’s political unrest.

The invitation was made through a letter from Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Secretary to the State Government, to Speaker Martins Amaewhule.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday at 10 am at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The agenda includes addressing lingering issues, presenting the 2025 state budget, and discussing payment of lawmakers’ allowances.

The letter read: “I hereby write in furtherance of His Excellency’s promise stated in my letter dated 5th March 2025 to notify you that His Excellency has received the Supreme Court Judgment, and has therefore directed me to invite you and your colleagues -the Honourable members of Rivers State House of Assembly, to a meeting to discuss:-

“Provision of a befitting space for the Assembly’s sittings. Payment of all outstanding remuneration or allowances of the Honourable members. Presentation of Budget and sundry matters;

“Any other matter(s), as may be necessary, to chart the way forward in the best interest of the State. Sequel to the above, I hereby humbly invite the Rt. Hon. Speaker, and all the Rivers State House of Assembly members to a meeting with the Governor as follows.”

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Rivers Lawmaker Rejects Fubara’s Invitation for Peace Meeting

Published

4 days ago

March 10, 2025

Eric

A member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Lolo Isaiah Opuende, has dismissed an invitation from Governor Siminialayi Fubara for a crucial meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday.

In an online video, Opuende stated that it was time for the governor to “dey his dey” (be on his own) while the lawmakers would do the same.

Representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 2, Opuende recalled that when the political crisis began, their principal had warned that a time would come for both sides to go their separate ways.

He also questioned the mode of invitation transmission, arguing that it is not feasible for lawmakers to honor the governor’s request.

“How can you write a letter for the House of Assembly and put it on social media and expect us to come? The governor should write us the proper way,” he insisted.

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Abacha Family Slams Babangida, Says Book a ‘Revisionist Narratives’, Distortion of Facts

Published

4 days ago

March 10, 2025

Eric

The family of the late General Sani Abacha has rebuffed claims made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, that the late Abacha was responsible for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

In his recently launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida expressed regret over the annulment, acknowledging that the Social Democratic Party’s candidate, MKO Abiola, won the election.

Describing the annulment as an “accident of history,” IBB blamed military officers led by Abacha, who was then his Chief of Defence Staff, for the controversial decision, alleging that it was done “without his permission.”

Reacting in a Sunday statement signed by his son, Mohammed Abacha, the late dictator’s family dismissed IBB’s claims, insisting that Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time of the annulment.

The family accused Babangida of attempting to distort historical facts and shift blame.

“The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government,” the statement read.

“Any attempt to shift this blame onto General Sani Abacha, who was a very senior military officer within the regime, is a deliberate distortion of historical facts. For years, various actors have attempted to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.”

The Abacha family also urged Nigerians to be cautious of what they termed “revisionist narratives” intended to manipulate public perception for political gain.

“We urge Nigerians to be wary of revisionist narratives that seek to manipulate public perception for personal or political reasons.

“The memory of our late father and leader, General Sani Abacha, must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible,” the statement continued.

In conclusion, the family slammed Babangida’s autobiography for failing to present an honest account of events, stating, “We regret that A Journey in Service missed the opportunity and failed to make history as a truthful and objective account of past events.

“As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author.”

Source: Newspoint