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Tag: Offa robbery

  • Offa Bank Robbery: How prime suspect died – Police

    The Nigeria Police Force has revealed the circumstances that led to the death of the prime suspect, Michael Adikwu in the Offa robbery.

    Contrary to claims that Adikwu was murdered by personnel of the Force while in detention, the Police said he slummed in their custody.

    The Police also said the death of the prime suspect does not exonerate the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki who was indicted by other suspects in the case.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood.

    According to Police,  Adikwu who was a dismissed Police Man and an ex- convict  confessed to have killed 22 persons including pregnant women and nine  Police personnel and carted away 22 AK 47 Rifles at the Offa Police Divisional Headquarters during Offa Bank Robbery.

    The Police also explained that he was not paraded along with the five gang leaders now standing trial because he was taken out to arrest other members of the gang and recover the Rifles carted away during the Offa Bank Robbery.

    The Police said: “Michael Adikwu was not murdered but slummed and died in detention while investigation into the Offa Bank Robbery was ongoing.

    “It is also important for the public to know that the deceased Michael Adikwu ‘was not among the Five gang leaders that indicted and implicated the senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, therefore, his death cannot in anyway vindicate Senator Bukola Saraki.

    “There is a post-mortem examination result in respect of the death of Michael Adikwu ‘M’ 30Yrs.”

    On the indictment of Saraki, the Police said: “The indictment of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki from the confessions of the five  gang leaders namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery was not politically motivated as alleged by Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki to the media, but purely criminal case.

    Read also: Offa robbery: Reps launch investigation into death of key suspect

    “It should be of serious concern to all, that human life is sacrosanct and  where investigation has been concluded and suspects arraigned in Court, judicial process must be exhausted and not hindered for the law to take its course in ensuring justice for the families of more than (33) innocent persons including pregnant women that were gruesomely murdered in cold blood by Michael Adikwu and the Five gang leaders investigated and currently standing trial for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery, than for any individual(s) or any group to attempt futile efforts and desperate distractions to pervert the end of justice is most unfair to the families of the deceased, the State and the society at large.”

    Giving further details into the case,  the Pokice said: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to the innuendo in the media on the death of a sectional gang leader Michael Adikwu ‘M’ 30Yrs (A Dismissed Police Man and an Ex- Convict) who confessed to have killed Twenty Two (22) persons including pregnant women and Nine (9) Police personnel and carted away of Twenty Two (22) AK 47 Rifles at the Offa Police Divisional Headquarters during Offa Bank Robbery on the 5th April, 2018, it is therefore, imperative that the Nigeria Police Force respond to the publication and set the record straight.

    “The Nigeria Police Force is conversant and mindful of contempt of Court in commenting on cases already before the Court of competent jurisdiction, however, the Force is constraint and compelled to respond to the statement from Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and not on the Court processes and  proceedings on the case of Offa Bank Robbery for which Five  principal suspects are now standing trial in a State High court in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    “For avoidance of doubt, and to correct the insinuations and wrong impressions created by the statement from Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki in the minds of members of the public over the indictment and involvement of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki in the case of the Offa Bank Robbery of 5th April, 2018, from the confessions of the Five (5) gang leaders namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery and the gruesome killing of 33 innocent persons, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki was indicted by the Five (5) suspects who admitted in their confessional statements to the Police investigators that they were political thugs of the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    “The Five gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name Youth Liberation Movement a.k.a “Good Boys” they also admitted and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles.

    “Lexus RX 300 Jeep with Reg. KWARA, KWA 143 RM with inscription SARAKI on a sticker attached to the vehicle

    “Mercedes Benz Compressor Reg. LAGOS, LT 496 KJA, these two (2) Vehicles were used for the Offa Bank Robbery by the Five (5) gang Leaders. The first vehicle was later registered after the Offa Bank Robbery to divert attention while the suspects were in detention.

    “These confessions were made before the media and the public on the 3rd of June, 2018. It is therefore, evidently clear that the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has case to answer in the whole matter.

    The statement continues: “It was also discovered during investigations that three gang leaders who participated actively in the Offa Bank Robbery (i) Ayoade Akinnibosun aka AY (ii) Ibukunle Ogunleye aka Arrow and (iii) Adeola Abraham followed the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki to Oloffa’s Palace when the Senate President paid a condolence visit to Offa after the Bank Robbery.

    “Further investigation into the matter revealed  that all the Five (5) gang leaders have direct connection to the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki as a picture of one of the five  gang leaders when paraded by the Police was in ‘Aso Ebi’ (trouser) used during the Senate President daughter’s wedding.

    The Five (5) gang leaders further admitted that they attended the Senate President daughter’s wedding held in Abuja.

    “Consequent on all the above, a thorough and discreet investigation was concluded by the Police into the matter and all the Five (5) gang leaders namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery that indicted and implicated Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate President Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Offa Bank Robbery are alive and now in Court.

  • Absence of principal suspect stalls Offa robbery trial

    Absence of the principal suspect in the Offa robbery trial yesterday stalled the beginning of trial of other suspects at the Ilorin High Court in Kwara State.

    Suspected robbers on April 15 attacked banks at Offa in Offa Local Government area of the state, killing many people.

    The prosecution, represented by Kwara State Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), told the court that he got information from the police high command that the principal suspect, Michael Adikwu, is dead.

    Five of the accused persons in court yesterday included Ayoade Adebosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Niyi Ogundiran, Saliu Azeez and Adeola Abraham.

    The suspects, who said they were served evidence of charge sheet on Monday, added that as a result, they could not meet their lawyers for representation.

    The sheet contains exhibits, suspects’ statements and government’s witnesses.

    Giving reasons why the trial would not continue, Ajibade said: “There are two complaints. One, the suspects do not have legal representation; two, we were informed by the police headquarters in Abuja that the first accused, Michael Adikwu, is dead.

    “Taking a look at the case’s dairy, we discovered that there is a statement from the first accused person. I directed the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to contact the force headquarters and he spoke with one Abba Kiyari and he told us that the first accused person is dead.

    “In this circumstance, we are constrained to amend the charge to remove his name from the charge sheet. We are, therefore, applying for a short adjournment. We will write the police requesting for evidence of Adikwu’s death.”

    Ruling, Justice Halima Salman urged the Legal Aide Council to come to the assistance of the accused persons for legal representation.

    She said there was no evidence of the first suspect’s death before her court.

    Justice Salman said the court is determined to give the case accelerated hearing

  • DPP to Offa robbery suspects: you have case to answer

    Five persons suspected to be involved in the April 15 bank robbery and killings in Offa, Offa Local Government of Kwara State, were yesterday arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrates’ Court.

    The court sat to deliberate on the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) legal advice on the case.

    The DPP said the robbery suspects have a case to answer.

    Kwara State Police Command OC Legal Kunle Iwalaiye had said the case was for mention and consideration of the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP)’s letter.

    He added that the suspects had cases to answer in the DPP’s advice AUST/LED14/V140/1457/738 and dated 11th of November, 2018.

    OC legal, who was represented by Prosecutor ASP Abdulkadir, said: “In this circumstance, the accused persons have cases to answer. We are asking for another date for further mention in which they must have been properly arraigned before a court.”

    He said the DPP also directed the police to carry out more

    investigations with a view to arresting more of the suspects on the run.

    Counsel to the accused, Abulrasheed Lawal, announced his withdrawal from the case based on legal misconception.

    Said he: “On our part we have a letter before the court dated 21st of October, 2018. The letter is as a result of a misconception of the legal representation of all the accused persons by Abdulwahab Bamidele.

    “The letter is seeking the leave of the court to withdraw the appearance of Abdulwahab Bamidele (Esq) as counsel representing all the accused in this case. And also my humble self holding the brief of Abdulwahab bamidele from the record of the court.

    “The same letter has been copied to OC legal, Kwara State Police Command and Abdulwahab Bamidele. In the circumstance we want the court to discountenance with the names of both Bamidele and Lawal from appearing for all the accused persons in this case.”

    In his short ruling, Magistrate Bio Salihu granted the prayers of the accused persons’ counsel and ordered the discountenance of their appearance in the case.

    He equally directed the police to take necessary action for the proper arraignment of the accused persons in court.

    He subsequently adjourned the case till December 6 for mention.

  • Offa bank robberies: Kwara accuses police of cheap blackmail

    The Kwara state government on Monday said that the Nigeria Police Force is being economical with the truth as regards the April robbery suspects in Offa, Offa local government area of the state.

    The police high command had reportedly blamed the Kwara state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice for delaying the arraignment and trial of the Offa bank robberies suspects.

    The force added that it had concluded investigations into the multiple bank robberies and sent the case file to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who directed that the file should be sent to the state AG.

    Reacting to the police’s statement in Ilorin, the state capital Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) described the police utterances as ‘cheap blackmail.’

    Said Ajibade: “I see this as a cheap blackmail from the police and at this instance they have something to hide which they are yet to tell Nigerians about this case. I am sure at the end of the day Nigerians will know what has transpired in this matter. That is why the police are  now passing the bucks. They can now see that Nigerians have started asking questions that if you arrested suspects since April this year and they are yet to be charged to court; then there must be something about it. I urge Nigerians to ask questions about this matter.

    “I am surprised particularly the statement coming from the Police Spokesperson Jimoh Moshood. Jimoh Moshood without being personal is from Ilorin here. He has contacts and I am sure he follows up with events in the Kwara command and he knows too well that all the suspects are still with him at the police headquarters.

    “Why will he now come to mislead the public that we are yet to prosecute? How can you prosecute people kept in Abuja in Kwara state High Courts? It is not possible.”

    Continuing the AG added: “I want to confirm to you that a letter was written from the office of the Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation under the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. My office received the letter on August 27th this year. And the content of the letter had to do with the investigation report on the Offa robbery and directing my office to take up the prosecution of the matter.

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    “Immediately we received this letter on the 6th of September this year, we wrote a letter through the office of the state director of the public prosecution to the office of the Attorney General requesting from them to provide for us the original case diary in the Offa robbery and also to transfer the suspects to the Kwara state police command. We waited for about three weeks and did not hear anything from them.

    “I then took it upon myself to personally meet with the AIG legal one David Ogbodo and I requested that the original case diary be sent to Kwara to enable us start prosecution of the matter. I also requested him to send all the suspects to Kwara state and he told me that he had directed the man in charge. That is one Abba Kyari.

    “We waited for another week, we could not get anything from them. So I directed my DPP to liaise with the police this time around. He liaised with the police both in the state and also with Abbah Kyari. They promised every day that they would send the suspects to Kwara and the original case diary to no avail.

    “You cannot prosecute under the law without having the original case diary. You cannot even file a charge without the case diary and in filing a charge you have to exhibit what we call proof of evidence. This proof of evidence entails the statements of witnesses. Statements of witnesses in this sense we are talking of the people that investigated Offa robber. We don’t have all these with us. We don’t have the suspects on ground, we don’t have the witnesses on ground. How do you file a charge? How do you prosecute people you c an not see?”

  • Offa robbery: IGP directs service of summons on Saraki

    INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has directed the court summons and other processes issued by a court in Abuja in relation to a criminal complaint brought against Senate President Bukola Saraki be served on him.

    He detailed a unit in the Police Legal Department at the Force headquarters in Abuja to ensure the prompt delivery of the court processes on Saraki before October 3, the next date of hearing.

    A lawyer, E. S. Marcus, disclosed this development yesterday at the resumed proceedings in a criminal complaint made against Dr. Saraki by an Abuja lawyer and rights activist, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, in relation to the ongoing investigation by the police into the April 5, 2018 bank robbery incident in Offa, Kwara State.

    In the complaint marked: “CR/196/2018, filed under Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015”, Ojaomo argued that Saraki’s alleged refusal to honour an invitation allegedly sent to him by the police, in relation to the Offa robbery investigation, amounted to the offences of “obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility.”

    The judge handling the case at the Grade 1 Area Court, Aco Estate, Lugbe, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Justice Abdullahi Garuba Ogbede had on September 10 this year, ordered the issuance of the summons on the IGP following Saraki’s absence in court when the case, in which he (Saraki) is listed as the sole defendant, was called.

    The judge had summoned the IGP to appear before his court on September 17 to show cause why Saraki was absent in court and what efforts he had made to ensure his appearance.

    Marcus, who is Ojaomo’s lawyer, told the court yesterday that although the IGP and Saraki were absent in court, he was informed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Legal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, identified as Mahmoud that the IGP has directed a unit to ensure the delivery of all processes in relation to the case on Saraki.

    He said: “The defendant is not in court. At the last date, the court issued a witness summons on the IGP to come and show cause why the police failed to effect service of the criminal summons, warrant of arrest and other processes on the defendant.

    “The witness summons was served on the Nigeria Police Force by the court’s registry.

    “However, we received a call from DSP Mahmoud of the Legal Department of the Nigeria Police Force headquarters, that the matter has been assigned by the IGP to a particular unit of the NPF to effect the service of the summons on the defendant and arrest him.”

    Marcus urged the court to grant a short adjournment to enable the police effect service of the processes on the defendant.

    Justice Ogbede acceded to Marcus’ request and adjourned the case to October 3.

    The criminal complaint by Ojaomo reads: “Criminal complaint brought pursuant to Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Please, cause a summons for a direct criminal complaint on the defendant on the following terms:

    “That you, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on or about the 24th day of July 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did refuse to honour the invitation of the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force to report at the police headquarters in FCT, Abuja to answer to  an allegation involving the investigation of  some criminal suspects involved in a case which the Nigeria Police Force is currently investigating, thereby obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful  responsibility.

    “You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 136 and 149 of the Penal Code Law. Whereas, the complainant is praying the court to charge the defendant accordingly.”

    Ordinarily, the service of the processes on Saraki ought to be effected by the complainant, but Marcus explained that when his client could not serve the defendant as ordered by the court, he applied, under Section 122 of the ACJA, to the IGP to help effect service on the defendant.

    He said the IGP was required, under the law, to either produce the defendant in court or attend court to explain why the defendant was absent, a position that informed the court’s September 10 order on the IGP.

  • Offa robbery: Court summons IGP over Saraki’s absence

    A court in Abuja has summoned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to attend court on September 17, to among others, explain the absence of Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday.

    Justice Abdullahi Garuba Ogbede of the Grade 1 Area Court, Aco Estate, Lugbe, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja ordered the issuance of summons to IGP Idris yesterday, following Saraki’s absence when the case in which he (Saraki) is listed as defendant, was called.

    The Senate president is listed as the sole defendant in a criminal complaint made against him by an Abuja lawyer and rights activist, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, in relation to the ongoing investigation by the police into the April 5 bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State.

    In the complaint marked: CR/196/2018, filed under Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Ojaomo argued that Saraki’s alleged refusal to honour an invitation allegedly sent to him by the police, in relation to the Offa robbery investigation, amounted to “obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility.”

    At the last hearing on August 3, Justice Ogbede ordered that processes in the case be served on Saraki and adjourned till September 10 for report of service and hearing.

    At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, complainant’s lawyer E. S. Marcus noted that the defendant was absent.

    He said neither the IGP nor his lawyer was in court to explain the defendant’s absence.

    Marcus told the court that when the complainant could not effect service of the processes on Saraki as ordered by the court, it applied, under Section 122 of the ACJA, to the IGP to help effect service on the defendant.

    He said the IGP was required, under the law, to either produce the defendant in court or attend court to explain why the defendant was absent.

    Marcus later applied that the IGP be summoned to enable him explain to the court what efforts he made to ensure that the defendant attended court, an application the court granted by ordering the issuance of a witness summons on the IGP.

    The witness summons dated September 10, reads: “You are hereby summoned to appear before the Grade 1 Area Court, Aco Estate, Lugbe, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on the 17th day of September 2018 at 9am to testify about what you know concerning the matter of the said complaint and not to depart thence without permission; and you are hereby warned that if you shall, without just excuse, fail to appear on the said date, a warrant will be issued to compel your attendance.”

    The criminal complaint by Ojaomo reads: “Criminal complaint brought pursuant to Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Please, cause a summons for a direct criminal complaint on the defendant on the following terms:

  • Offa Robbery: CP advocates use of technology to fight crime

    The Commissioner of Police, Kwara Police Command, Mr Aminu Saleh, has called for increased use of technology to fight crime and ensure adequate security in the country.

    Saleh made the call in Ilorin while addressing officers and men of the Police after his tour to the Police Area Command and other police formations in the state.

    He sympathised with the residents of Offa and the families of the victims of the April 25 Bank robbery which claimed many lives.

    The commissioner, however, stressed the need for the installation of CCTV camera in front of the banks, market places and streets linking the banks to further check crime.

    “We need to make use of technology as we are in digital world. We must always be on alert and aware of everything around us at all time.

    “If not for the CCTV in the banks, the suspects would not have been arrested. “So, we need to do more on technology,” he said.

    He also urged officers and men of the command to carry out more surveillance in markets and establish better relationship with market association officials.

    Saleh also called on the personnel of the command to relate well with the traditional rulers and youths in order to get tips and useful information on happenings in their surroundings.

    He also urged police officers to be diligent and always be at alert in the discharge of their duties.

    “Be very vigilant, don’t over criminalise issues and always be prayerful.”

    The police boss said that Police Relay Communication (PRC) would be provided to link the Command to Area Commands for prompt response to emergency situation.

    He also said that more Police Mobile Force (PMF) would be deployed to the Area Command for effective policing in the area.

    Saleh advised the Area Commanders to display the pictures of the policemen that lost their lives during the robbery incident.

    The police boss also visited Nigerian Navy School of Health Science, Offa where he assured the Commandant, Capt. Ibrahim Nurudeen of the cooperation of the police to fight crime.

    The Commandant told Saleh that the Navy had further equipped the school after the robbery incident in the town.

    He also expressed his readiness to partner with the police to ensure adequate security of the area, adding that both the Police and the Navy were fighting one cause.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, report that Offa Area Command covers Offa, Idofian, Ilemona, Erin-Ile and Ajase-Ipo police stations.

    Saleh also visited traditional rulers in the area as part of his familiarisation tour of Police formations in the state.

  • Offa robbery: Court orders service of summons on Saraki

    A court in Abuja has ordered the service of summons on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in relation to the ongoing investigation by the police into the April 5, 2018 bank robbery incident in Offa, Kwara State.

    Justice Abdullahi Garuba Ogbede of the Grade 1 Area Court, ACO Estate, Lugbe, FCT, Abuja, issued the criminal summons and ordered its service on Saraki following a criminal complaint made against the Senate President by an Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, acting under Section Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    When the case was called yesterday, complainant’s lawyer, E. S. Marcus, told the court that the defendant was absent in court despite the efforts made by an official of the court to serve the defendant with summons issued on July 31 this year.

    Following Marcus’ complaint, Justice Ogbede invited the court’s official, Abdullahi Umar Kutigi, who informed the court that he was prevented by security personnel at the National Assembly from serving the defendant when he visited the place.

    The judge said since there was no evidence that proper service had been effected on the defendant, it was difficult for the court to take any further steps on the case.

    He added: “The process was not served on the defendant. So, it is ordered that a proper service shall be made on the defendant. This matter is adjourned the 10th of September for mention.”

    Ojaomo’s contention, in the complaint marked CR/196/2018, is to the effect that Saraki’s alleged refusal to honour an invitation purportedly sent to him by the police, in relation to the ongoing Offa robbery investigation, amounted to “obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility.”

    The criminal complaint, a copy of which The Nation sighted yesterday, reads: “Criminal complaint brought pursuant to Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Please, cause a summons for a direct criminal complaint on the defendant on the following terms:

    “That you, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on or about the 24th day of July 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did refuse to honour the invitation of the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force to report at the police headquarters in FCT, Abuja to answer to an allegation involving the investigation of some criminal suspects involved in a case which the Nigeria Police Force is currently investigating, thereby obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility .

    “You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 136 and 149 of the Penal Code Law. Whereas, the complainant is praying the court to charge the defendant accordingly.”

  • Offa robbery: Court orders service of summons on Saraki

    A court in Abuja has ordered the service of summons on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki in relation to the ongoing investigation by the police into the April 5, 2018 bank robbery incident in Offa, Kwara State.

    Justice Abdullahi Garuba Ogbede of the Grade 1 Area Court, ACO Estate, Lugbe, FCT, Abuja issued the criminal summons and ordered its service on Saraki following a criminal complaint made against the Senate President by an Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, acting under Section Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    When the case was called on Friday, complainant’s lawyer, E. S. Marcus told the court that the defendant was absent in court despite made by an official of the court to serve the defendant with summons issued on July 31 this year.

    Following Marcus’ complaint, Justice Ogbede invited the court’s official, Abdullahi Umar Kutigi, who informed the court that he was prevented from serving the defendant by security personnel at the National Assembly when he visited the place.

    The judge said since there was no evidence that proper service has been effected on the defendant, it was difficult for the court to take any further steps on the case.

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    He added: “The process was not served on the defendant. So, it is ordered that a proper service shall be made on the defendant. This matter is adjourned the 10th of September for mention.”

    Ojaomo’s contention, in the complaint marked: CR/196/2018, is to the effect that Saraki’s alleged refusal to honour an invitation purportedly sent to him by the police, in relation to the ongoing Offa robbery investigation amounted to the offences of “obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility.”

    The criminal complaint, a copy of which The Nation sighted on Friday, reads: “Criminal complaint brought pursuant to Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Please, cause a summons for a direct criminal complaint on the defendant on the following terms:

    “That you, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on or about the 24th day of July 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did refuse to honour the invitation of the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force to report at the police headquarters in FCT, Abuja to answer to an allegation involving the investigation of some criminal suspects involved in a case which the Nigeria Police Force is currently investigating, thereby obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility .

    “You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 136 and 149 of the Penal Code Law. Whereas, the complainant is praying the court to charge the defendant accordingly.”

  • Offa robbery: Court invites IGP over governor’s aide’s detention

    A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Friday summoned the Inspector -General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to appear before it to justify the continued detention of Personal Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed,  Lekan Alabi, who was arrested in connection with the April 5 armed robbery in Offa.

    The court ordered the IGP to appear next Wednesday.

    Lead counsel to the Alabi, Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), had lamented the failure of the police to release another suspect, Alhaji Babatunde Abdulwahab, the Chief of Staff to the governor, who has been granted bail by another high court in the state.

    Adelodun, who is leading four other lawyers, told journalists after Friday’s proceeding that the refusal of the police to obey the court’s order on Abdulwahab portends grave danger to democracy and would lead to loss of confidence in the police.