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Tag: Offa

  • Poly unveils electric vehicle

    Poly unveils electric vehicle

    Federal Polytechnic, Offa has unveiled an indigenous electric vehicle named OKIN EV1.

    The historic development signals a bold step forward in the country’s quest for sustainable mobility and showcases the ingenuity of home-grown research and engineering, the institution spokesperson, Olayinka Iroye, quoted the Director of the Polytechnic’s Directorate of Assembly, Fabrication and Commercialisation of Research Products, Dr. Olufemi Kehinde, as saying.

    “This is a proof that Nigeria has the capacity to lead in innovative solutions to global challenges,” the statement said.

    The OKIN EV1 is not just another automobile; it is a symbol of what Nigerian institutions can achieve when knowledge meets creativity, the statement added.

    Iroye said: “The polytechnic has already announced plans to refine the prototype and explore avenues for mass production, which can place affordable, eco-friendly vehicles in the hands of everyday Nigerians.

    “Powered fully by electricity and complemented with a solar-energy feature, the vehicle is capable of covering an impressive 125 kilometres on a single charge, the equivalent of a round trip from Offa to Ilorin.

    ‘’The EV is equipped with modern features that meet today’s demands:

    Touchscreen display for real-time monitoring and control.

    “Reverse camera for enhanced safety and convenience. Solar-powered extension system to prolong driving hours.

    “These features place the OKIN EV1 in the league of practical, eco-friendly vehicles designed to address urban and rural mobility needs.

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    “The journey of the OKIN EV1 began in 2024 and was completed in less than six months. Despite challenges in sourcing materials locally, the development team’s determination paid off, producing what many have called a game changer for Nigeria’s transport industry.

    “This ground breaking feat will not have been possible without the vision and support of the Rector, Dr. Kamoru Kadiri, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE). His encouragement, passion for research and commitment to providing an enabling environment for innovation have inspired the institution’s scholars and inventors to reach this remarkable milestone.

    “With the unveiling of OKIN EV1, Federal Polytechnic, Offa has set the stage for a future where locally-made technologies can compete globally.

    The feat is not only a victory for the institution, but also a shining example for Nigeria’s academic and industrial communities.”

  • Ooni, Olofa, other dignitaries to grace first African fashion fusion show in Offa

    Ooni, Olofa, other dignitaries to grace first African fashion fusion show in Offa

    A wave of elegance, tradition, and high fashion is set to sweep through Offa, Kwara State, as the town prepares to host the maiden edition of the African Fashion Fusion Show from June 14–15, 2025.

    The groundbreaking event will take place at the Imperial Event Center, opposite Summit University, and is expected to draw a blend of royalty, dignitaries, and cultural icons in a grand celebration of African creativity.

    Organizers describe the show as more than just a fashion event, it’s a vibrant showcase of culture, arts, crafts, and identity. “This is not just another runway show,” said Raji, a lead organizer. “It’s a celebration of identity, creativity, and African excellence across diverse art forms. We aim to promote cultural preservation while empowering fashion entrepreneurs.”

    He added that the event offers a valuable platform for creatives to gain visibility, network with industry leaders, and showcase the richness of African aesthetics.

    Top on the guest list is the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, globally renowned for his efforts in promoting Yoruba culture and African heritage. 

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    Joining him will be the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Muhammad Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, Ajagungbade I, a prominent figure in youth empowerment and cultural advancement in Kwara State.

    Also lending royal prestige is the Onigboko of Igbokoland, Awori Kingdom, HRM Oba Itu Olasunkanmi Yusuf, Ilemobade II, who will be coming from Ogun State in support of the fusion of traditional art with contemporary design.

    Adding further cultural weight is HRM Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, celebrated for her promotion of Adire and African fabrics. 

    A respected cultural ambassador and fashion icon, her presence underlines the show’s mission of heritage preservation.

    From the political sphere, the First Lady of Kwara State, H.E. Amb. Prof. Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, founder of the Ajike People Centre, will grace the event. She will be joined by H.E. Omolewa Yetunde Ahmed, former Kwara First Lady and a staunch advocate for women and youth development.

    The two-day spectacle will feature exhibitions, runway showcases, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for designers, stylists, artists, and cultural entrepreneurs.

    Backed by royal endorsements and a high-profile guest list, the African Fashion Fusion Show is set to position Offa as a new cultural and fashion hub in Nigeria.

  • Summit University, Offa, holds combined maiden convocation ceremonies

    Summit University, Offa, holds combined maiden convocation ceremonies

    • Zulum to deliver convocation Lecture
    • Adegunwa, Okunnu, Balogun to be conferred with honorary doctorate

    Summit University Offa, Kwara State, has announced its maiden convocation ceremonies to hold from Wednesday December 6th to Saturday December 9th, 2023.

    Highlighting activities lined up during a virtual press conference, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abiodun Musa Aibinu, said the four-day ceremonies will commence on Wednesday December 6th, 2023 with a press conference where numerous achievements and future goals will be unveiled. This will follow by a Research Exhibition, which will unfold the Research and Innovation Unit of the University and will run concurrently with other events daily until Saturday, December 9, 2023.

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    On Thursday, the 7th of December, 2023, the Maiden Convocation Lecture titled: “Revitalizing the Nigerian Economy: The Roles and Responsibilities of the Youth in the Digital Economy” is expected to be delivered by the Guest Lecturer, His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Executive Governor of Borno State while renowned Historian, Prof. Oluwatoyin Falola will give the keynote address. Ground-breaking ceremonies for the Engr. Kola Balogun College of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Engineering, the College of Innovation and Computing Technology, and the College of Post Graduate Studies will follow immediately after the lecture. The day will culminate with the Special Convocation Dinner and Award Night ceremony to be held at the Imperial Event Centre, opposite Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria.

    “On Friday, the 8th of December, 2023, the event will feature the Commissioning of the New Central Mosque donated by the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (Northern Council), as well as the Investiture of the University’s Chancellor, Alhaji (Dr.) Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, OFR. The day will also witness the Conferment of Honourary Doctorate Degrees (Honoris Causa) on Alhaji (Dr.) Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa (OFR); Alhaji Lateef Okunnu (SAN), and Engineer Moshood Kola Balogun. Additionally, the launching of Summit University, Offa N5 Billion Development Plan and the Ground-breaking Ceremony for the Senate Building will take place.

    The grand finale of the Convocation Ceremony dedicated to the award of Bachelor’s Degrees and prizes to the graduands of the University is set for Saturday, the 9th of December, 2023.

  • Rival cult groups kill two Offa Poly students in Kwara

    Rival cult groups kill two Offa Poly students in Kwara

    Rival cult groups clashes have struck at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa in Kwara state.

    In the bloody brawl, two students including one higher national diploma (HND1) Toyin Bamidele of the Faculty of Food Science and Technology, and a male student were hacked down.

    It was gathered that the deceased male student who is yet to be identified was the leader of a cult group.

    He was said to have been macheted to death within the premises of the polytechnic.

    Late Toyin Bamidele said to be the girlfriend of the leader of another cult group was allegedly trailed to her residence in Offa town where she was gunned down.

    Eyewitness accounts added that the death of the two students might not be unconnected with a ‘sign out’ ceremony in the nation’s tertiary institutions whereby students celebrate the end of their last examination, which turned awry.

    Residents of the area said “When we heard the sound of the invasion, some of us had to run for our safety.

    “But at the end of the attack which lasted about fifteen minutes, when we got to  her room, we discovered the lifeless body of the deceased and then informed the appropriate authorities of the incident.”

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    The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital in Offa.

    The institution has condoled with the families of the victims.

    Acting Public Relations officer of the polytechnic, Mrs Folake Akinloye in a statement said that “management of Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara state has commenced investigation into the killing of Miss Toyin Bamidele, an HND 1 Food Technology student of the institution by some unknown assailants.

    “The incident was received with rude shock the murder of Bamidele who was allegedly hacked to death in her rented apartment on Thursday 16 November 2023.

    “The management condemns this inhumane act in strong terms as it is strange in the Polytechnic community.

    “While the circumstances behind the incident remain unknown, investigations are currently ongoing to reveal the identity of the evil occurrence by the appropriate security agencies and, as a matter of urgency, to fish out the culprits.”

    She further said that “her demise is an irreparable loss to the entire management and Staff of the Polytechnic.

  • AGF, Offa varsity VC, Akinrinade, others for alma mata’s 80th anniversary

    AGF, Offa varsity VC, Akinrinade, others for alma mata’s 80th anniversary

    Attorney General of the Federation, Hon. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Vice Chancellor, Offa University, Prof Abdulrahim Bayo Lawal; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd) are among dignitaries expected to grace the 80th Founders Day anniversary of Offa Grammar School,  put together by the Offa  Grammar School Old Students Association.

    In a statement by the Offa Grammar School Old Students’ Association (OGSOSA),  the event scheduled between 18 and 22nd October will start with a fitness walk in and around Offa town. Other activities include the anniversary lecture theme; Rethinking the Nigerian education system for sustainable development, quiz competition among students of the school, Jumat prayer , thanksgiving service.

    The highlight of the epoch-making event is the launch and foundation laying of the N100m ultra-modern OGSOSA national secretariat to be named after one of the outstanding old students and former chief of Army staff, Lt Gen Alani Akinrinade (retd).

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    The Chief Launcher at the event is the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Hon. Lateef Fagbemi while Vice Chancellor, Offa University, Professor Bayo Lawal is the guest speaker.

    Other dignitaries include the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Gen David Jemibewon(retd), Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Oloyede Gbadamosi,  among others.

    The establishment of Offa Grammar School and the subsequent steady developments, the statement said can be credited to the thoughtfulness, resourcefulness and relentless efforts of the Descendants Union (ODU).

    The idea of starting a Community Secondary School in that part of the country was a  novel experience. Between 1935 and 1938 Offa indigenes in Lagos formed a socio-cultural body which later transformed into ODU.  of Offa.

    On February 2, 1943, the School was formally declared open with only a handful of 8 students reporting.

  • Police want me to implicate Saraki, alleges Offa robbery suspect

    One of the suspects in the April 5, 2018 bloody bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State, Ayoade Akinnibosun, alleged yesterday that the police asked him to implicate Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Akinnibosun alongside two other suspects, Ibikunle Ogunleye (second accused person) and Adeola Abraham (third accused person) gave evidence at a Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, how the police allegedly extracted statements from them under duress.

    The other accused persons, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran, were in court.

    The three accused persons alleged that the principal suspect in the robbery, Michael Adikwu, was shot dead by one Inspector Vincent attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    The police high command had reportedly announced that Adikwu slumped in its custody and was taken to hospital before he died.

    IRT, with office in Abuja, is headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari.

    Akinnibosun, the first accused person, Ogunleye and Abraham were examined and cross-examined by their

    counsel, Mathias Emeribe and prosecution counsel, Razaq Gold, in a trial within trial on how they were allegedly tortured and threatened by the police to make confessional statements.

    Prosecution witness Inspector Hitila Hassan had last Thursday told the court that the suspects voluntarily gave their statements under his supervision.

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

    He argued that the statements were not voluntarily taken, noting that they fell short of the provisions of the Evidence Act, particularly sections 28 and 29.

    At yesterday’s proceedings, Akinnibosun alleged: “Abba Kyari told me to mention the name of Senate President Bukola Saraki that he gave me the guns for the operations. But I declined.

    “He promised that they would reward me handsomely and set me free if I could indict Senator Saraki. When I disagreed, they called some policemen to take me back to their cell. During this time, my hands were tied to my legs in the back. Their children are in America and Europe; you are allowing yourselves to be used as political thugs.”

    Akinnibosun said he was the leader of Kwara South Liberation Movement, a group that mobilised young, jobless graduates for the lawmaker representing Kwara South, Dr. Rafiu Ibrahim.

    “The essence is to secure government jobs for the boys,” he said.

    Akinnibosun, Ogunleye and Abraham gave graphic details of their horrifying experience allegedly in the police custody in Abuja.

    During one of their encounters at the police IRT ‘theatre room,’ they alleged that in their presence, Inspector Vincent shot dead five herdsmen.

    ‘The theatre room,’ according to the accused, is the generator room of the IRT’s office and it also serves as where suspects are extra-judicially executed.

    The trio alleged that it was in the same ‘theatre room that Inspector Vincent, otherwise known as ‘Mr. Torture,’ shot dead Adikwu for failing to indict them in the robbery.

    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 dead. “

    Justice Halimat Salman adjourned the case till March 25 for continuation of trial within trial.

  • Offa robbery: Absence of witnesses stall hearing of suspects

    Hearing on Offa robbery suspects at the Kwara state High Court sitting in Ilorin, was on Monday stalled by the failure of prosecution to produce witnesses in court.

    As a result, the court at its resumed hearing on Monday, adjourned the case to January 18, 2019, for definite hearing.

    The five accused persons brought before the court were Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.

    The April 5th 2018 bloody bank robbery incident claimed 33 lives including nine policemen and women.

    The accused were charged alleged conspiracy, armed robbery, murder, Culpable Homicide and illegal possession of firearms.

    When the case which was slated for definite hearing Monday came up, Kwara state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Jimoh, Mumini said that the police who investigated the case could not bring their witnesses who are all in the Force Headquarters in Abuja to the court.

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    The DPP added that “all the witnesses in the robbery case are policemen who investigated the case and they are all from the Police Headquarters in Abuja. No witness was taken from Offa where the robbery took place and non from Kwara state. ”

    Mr Mumini said that all efforts he made to the police Assistant Inspector General David Igodo who is in charge of Police investigation and Mr Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police who led the investigation team to Kwara state to produce the witnesses in court did not yield any result.

    The DPP said, “on the 10th of December, 2018, I wrote a letter to the AIG, Mr Igodo which I copied to this honorable court to make available all witnesses in this case in court today. I followed it up with phone calls on January 2, 4 and 6, 2019. It was at about 8.07 pm yesterday (Sunday) that Abba Kyari, DCP told me that the witnesses will leave Abuja for Ilorin this morning. I told him that the court would sit at 9am. The AIG then told me to beg the court for short adjournment.”

    He, however, sought for short adjournment for the case from the court.

    The Defence Counsel, Mathias Emeribe said that the prosecution was not ready to go on with the case.
    He did not however oppose to the adjournment.

    He pleaded with the court to order the prosecution to serve him with the amended charge of the case as well as the confessional statements of the five accused persons.

    In his ruling, the trial Judge, Justice Halimat Salman said that she was adjourning the case till January 18, 2019 because the police failed to make the witnesses available in court.

    She then vacated the definite hearing order slated for today and ordered that the police should send down all the witnesses to Ilorin for the definite hearing of the case on Friday next week, 18th January, 2019.

  • Offa, neighbour quarrel over court verdict on land dispute

    There is anxiety in Offa and Erin-Ile communities of Offa and Oyun local government areas of Kwara State.

    Erin-Ile claimed it got a Supreme Court judgment on December 14, ceding some parcels of land in Offa to Erin-Ile, but Offa community has described its sister community’s claim as false.

    Both communities had engaged in bloody clashes over ownership of some land.

    Speaking on the judgment, the National President of Erin-Ile Progressive Union, Samuel Olu Alabi said: “In 1973, pursuant to administrative judicial panel, headed Justice Daramola, we got a Supreme Court judgment on December 10, that same year, confirming the boundary of Erin-Ile as far as NEPA office – the present Offa Descendants Union (ODU) and several other places – as belonging to Erin-Ile.Thereafter, there had been some administrative interventions to distort the Supreme Court confirmation.

    “Few years after, the Offa community and some other individuals in Offa felt they should litigate the once resolved boundary. Like any other court case, it started from the High Court, and they lost. They appealed to the Court of Appeal and they lost. Finally, they went to the Supreme Court. On December 14, just a few days back, the Supreme Court not only dismissed the appeal, it (also) awarded a cost of N500,000 in favour of Erin-Ile.

    “The court also classified the appeal as an abuse of court processes against known legal norms. It confirmed that the Erin-Ile land covers where we know now as the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Avalon Hotel and many other places. That is the background and the summary of the judgment.”

    Alabi added that the community would soon swing into action for the enforcement of the judgment.

    He said: “We are running a community, not a one-man show. We have already set up a committee to review the judgment. The committee will advise the EPU national body and the Elerin of Erin-Ile on the way forward.

    “It will be too hasty for us now to say the steps we will take. We are studying the judgment and, at the end of the day, the whole world will know where we are heading to.

    “But, unlike the 1973, when we did not take steps, this time round, we will take necessary steps in accordance with the judgment. When and how we are going to do it is not yet determined. The steps we are going to take include the execution of judgment validly delivered by the highest court of justice in Nigeria.

    “There are established procedures for executing a court judgment. This is what we are going to adopt. We will not do anything against the law. Any judgment that is not enforceable is a mere waste of time, and our judges would not deliver judgments that cannot be enforced.

    “We must know that there is no appeal after the Supreme Court judgment. Like I said, it is not going to be like a military intervention; the whole world will be told. Our neighbours will be duly advised through newspaper adverts. We will not allow people to work on sentiment and allow least informed people to think Erin-Ile is troublesome and violent.”

    The President of Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Alhaji Najim Yaasin, urged the state government to caution Erin-Ile not to cause unnecessary tension by spreading false claims and reports to unsuspecting members of the public.

    In a latter to the state government, he said: “Contrary to the claim of Erin-Ile, the Supreme Court did not award any land to Erin-Ile. The land dispute between Offa and Erin-Ile dates back to the Adaramola’s boundary report, which awarded part of Offa land to Erin-Ile.

    “That decision was challenged up to the Supreme Court and the court held that the decision could only be varied by the state government based on the law setting up the boundary commission.

    “The present case arose from some families in Offa, who want their ancestral land that was wrongly given to some families in Erin-Ile.

    “The Supreme Court’s recent ruling struck out the appeal on technical grounds of improper parties before the court and the matter has been settled by previous decision of the Supreme Court.”

    The letter reads: “That the Dr Funsho Daramola’s report has been varied by different military governments of Kwara State. In 1975, Col. Ibrahim Taiwo amended the Bamgboye Edict to set aside the Dr Funsho Daramola report and, in its place, set up a committee of traditional rulers, headed by the late Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulu Karnaeni Gambari, which eventually fixed the boundary at the crest of the hill between the two community, called ‘Kere Ipinle’; a peace accord was then signed by both communities.

    “In 1985, Group Captain Salaudeen Latinwo published an advertorial acquiring some 500 metres on both sides of Kere Ipinle boundary for buffer zone. In 1986, Wing Commander Ndatsu Umoru surveyed the buffer zone with register beacons and deposit, accordingly. In 1997, Col. P. A. M. Ogar (Military Administrator, or MILAD) signed the buffer zone into law and gazetted it accordingly.

    “It is now crystal clear that various governments had varied severally the decision of Dr Funsho Daramola report and is no longer valid.

    “Offa, therefore, rejects any claim to land by Erin-Ile beyond the present status quo. Offa will not concede any part of its land to Erin-Ile. Offa reiterates its position that the Supreme Court has not awarded any land to Erin-Ile.

    “The Kwara State government is hereby called upon to caution Erin-Ile from creating problems where none exists.”

     

  • Offa robbery: Saraki seeks inquiry into death of key suspect

    …Says he has been vindicated

     

    Following eventual disclosure by the Police that Michael Adikwu, the principal suspect in the deadly bank robbery attacks in Offa, Kwara State, on April 5, 2018, is dead, the President of the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Wednesday asked the Presidency to institute a judicial inquiry into the reported death of the principal suspect in the April 5, 2018 Offa robbery attacks, Michael Adikwu.

    Saraki said that the inquiry should be constituted to determine “how and when’ the suspect died.”

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    The Senate President in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that the new disclosure by the Police has vindicated his earlier claim that the suspect had been murdered in police custody and that the investigation was politically motivated to implicate him (Saraki), Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed and a few others.

    He stated that the inquiry would help to thoroughly examine and interrogate how the investigation into the robbery incident was conducted by the Police and whether the investigation followed the normal process and comply with global best practices.

    He added that the Police needed to confirm why it took them so long to make the disclosure about the death of the principal suspect after they categorically denied it at the time he (Saraki) disclosed the information and it was reported in the media.

    Saraki said, “It should be recalled that when we mentioned it that the principal suspect had been murdered and that investigation into the Offa robbery attack was politically motivated and targeted at implicating me and other individuals, the Police Public Relations Officer, Moshood Jimoh  said: ‘Michael Adikwu is in Police custody. You know that he is the one that led the killing of 22 people. The fire arms that were carted away, he is helping the police in the investigation to recover them. There is a state in the South-west where they kept him. I can’t mention the state. It is in one of the South-west states’.

    “The fresh facts have now thrown more light into why there had been inconsistencies in the various statements by the police. The Police initially told the Attorney-General of Kwara State that the principal suspect was alive and they only later reluctantly disclosed that he died in the course of arrest. How can a suspect confirmed to be in custody now be said to have died in the course of arrest? This contradiction shows a deliberate attempt to cover up something.

    “It is obvious that the Police have orchestrated the information they give to the public on the Offa robbery only to tarnish the image of the Kwara State Governor and myself. We are calling for a public inquiry to probe the issues of extra-judicial killing, the cover-up of this killing with the aim of framing up some individuals for political purpose and politicizing of criminal investigations. The facts need to be laid bare.

    “The inquiry may help to further document and define the terms of handling of suspects in police custody and how to prevent extra-judicial killing of suspects, for whatever purpose. There is need for transparency in investigations into all cases and our methods should comply with global standards. We should discourage situations where police politicize investigations and deliberately set out to frame some individuals.

    “With the facts on ground, the issues that should be unearthed by the inquiry include: When exactly did the suspect die? How did he die? Why was the police denying the facts of his death when they knew he had died? At what point did the Police leadership knew of the death? Why are the police covering up the facts? We believe the answer to these questions will help the country to address the issue of human rights abuse, extra-judicial killing, manipulation of criminal investigation to achieve political end, deliberate attempt to cover up some facts and how skewed investigation of crime can impact on successful prosecution of suspects,” he added.

    Saraki noted that now that the Police have commenced prosecution of the remaining suspects in court, there should be diligent and prompt prosecution so that justice can be transparently done to both the victims of the Offa robbery and the accused persons.

  • 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?”