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Tag: Saraki

  • Offa robbery: Kwarans in heated debate over Saraki-police rift

    Prominentb Kwarans and residents were yesterday in heated debate over  the probe of the allegations made against Senate President Bukola Saraki by suspects robbery suspects in the April 5 Offa bank robbery.

    Thirty three persons including nine policemen were killed. Millions of naira was stolen by the gang. 22 people are in the police net over the bloody robbery.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police had initially invited Saraki for interrogation before soft pedalling to request for only a written explanation within 48 hours.

    Also linked to the suspects is Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed following alleged claims by the suspects that they were political thugs working for the duo.

    Both the senate president and the governor dismissed the allegations as an attempt to frame them.

    Many Kwarans expressed support for the police in the ongoing investigation and have called on Saraki to respond to the allegations made against him in order to clear his name.

    Others dismissed the allegations, saying they were aimed at tarnishing the image of the senate president and the governor of his home state.

    The respondents  spoke to NAN in separate interviews in Ilorin.

    Dr Amuda Aluko, an elder statesman,  said it would  be better for the senate president to respond to the police request in order to clear his name.

    Aluko, the Tafida of Ilorin, who  was of the view that Saraki could  never be involved in robbery, however, said it had become expedient  for him  to clear his name since he was allegedly mentioned by the suspects.

    He said his Kwara Liberation Group had spoken out about a week ago urging Nigerians to  allow the police carry out their  duty on the case of  cultists transferred to Abuja from the state.

    Prof. Suleiman Abubakar, a former Minister of National Planning, was of the view that “ if the senate president has  no skeleton in his cupboard, he should honour police invitation to clear his name.’’

    According to him, the claim by the  suspects that they have links with the senate president makes it imperative that Saraki avails  himself of the opportunity offered by the police  to clear his name.

    Prof . Abdulwahab Egbewole of the Department of Law, University of Ilorin,  on his part,  warned  against “ the politicisation of   the lives of Nigerians.’’

    According to him, the  police have  the right  by law to investigate everybody.

    “From the trajectory of the matter, it is not regarded as purely a legal issue. It has some fundamental political undertones, ” he said.

    The don  said that from the alleged confession of the  Offa robbery suspects, it was revealed that Saraki gave a vehicle to a suspect.

    “They also alleged that he gave them guns;  they, however,  stated that he did not tell them to rob,’’ he said.

    He also argued that this may be seen as being an accessory to a particular crime in law.

    Egebwole, however,  pointed out that the anti-cultism law in Kwara  put in place by the Saraki administration  was the most stringent in the country.

    He wondered how “ a person who puts  in place such a law will now  go against it,’’  adding that  ” Saraki after all had  said he is ready to comply with the directives of the police during the course of investigation.’’

    Mr Iyiola Oyedepo, the PDP Chairman in Kwara, urged  the police to carry out  a thorough investigation into the Offa robbery incident.

    He also expressed doubt that the senate president  would  support  the suspects to engage in robbery.

    Oyedepo, however, said  Saraki has a  moral duty to clear his name.

    He advised the senate president to honour the police request  by  sending  his statement  so as to clear his name.

    “Did Saraki give them vehicle? Did Saraki provide them guns, are they his political thugs?

    “All these questions should be answered by Sen.  Bukola Saraki to clear his name,” Oyedepo said.

    The chairman  called on the people of the state to rise up and demand justice so that the case would not be compromised.

    In his reaction, Rafiu Hotonu, the State Secretary of the National Union of Local Government Employers (NULGE), said there was nothing wrong with the police request asking Saraki to respond to  allegations.

    “He should honour the request  to clear his name. NULGE wholeheartedly supports  the police because the suspects  confessed that they work for the senate president, so he needs  to clear his name.

    “No matter how highly placed you are in the society, once the police invite you, you are bound to honour the invitation,” Hotonu said.

    An Ilorin based legal practitioner, Mr Isaac Oladele,  said there was no crime in a police invitation, urging Saraki to use  the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

    Oladele, who  noted that the police had  even said the senate president need not appear in person,  also adds:  “ This is an opportunity for Saraki to clear his name of all the allegations of sponsoring cultists as thugs and having a link to the  Offa robbery.

    ” Nobody is above the law, whether  you  are  rich or poor. The law is no respecter of anybody. I will advise the senate president to honour the invitation and clear the mess on time.’’

    But another  lawyer, Mr Tunde Jimoh,  appealed the public to stop politicising the matter and allow the police to conduct  their investigation.

    ” Nigerians must allow the  police to do a thorough finding. They must stop the different protests and distractions on social media.

    “Enough of  interference from the external forces; there is no need to mount  pressure on the senate president and the  Nigeria Police in order not to complicate the matter.

    “The fact that the suspected robbers mentioned Saraki’s name in their confessional statements  doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusions.

    “Nigerians must be patient and give room for thorough investigation and fair hearing from both parties rather than drawing  conclusions, ” he said.

    For Funsho Aina, another legal practitioner, the senate president must respond promptly to the matter “ because of the sensitive position he is holding. ‘’

    ” It is still an allegation for now and he is not yet found guilty. The best for him (Saraki) is to honourably make his statement on the matter available before it turns to another thing.

    “If there is the need for him to step down from his post as senate president to clear his name, he can do so for the sake of his  integrity and that of the National Assembly, ” Aina  said.

    Mr Bayo Adeyipo, a resident,  said there was need for the ruling party to close ranks and imbibe unity  while  shunning  acts capable of derailing its  future plans.

    Adeyipo  stated that the  initial invitation extended to the senate president  bordered on a  criminal act and  should not be subjected to political debate.

    “If anybody in power is found wanting, he  should be ready to give necessary explanation by way of clearing his or her name of any wrong doing.

    “The police have laid out their facts, the onus is now on the person so accused to explore all avenues to clear his name of criminal allegations and maintain his or her integrity,” he said.

    The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (lEDPU), a soicio-cultural organisation, however,  described the police action  as “ a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the senate president.’’

    Amb.  Usman AbdulAzeez, the National President of the union, said the invitation of Saraki in connection with the robbery incident   was a ploy to discredit  him.

    “The lEDPU,  which is non-political,  strongly condemns  the invitation of our illustrious son who is the number three citizen of the country in connection with the robbery case,’’  he said.

    He described the initial invitation as an attempt to drag the name of the ancient  town of Ilorin in the  mud, stating that the senate president could not be involved in robbery.

    Alhaji Busari Adebayo, a community leader in Ipetu,  also  described the development as “political witch hunt ‘’   which could heat up the polity.

    “As the 2019 general elections draw  nearer, the political class should imbibe tolerance and close ranks in the interest of moving the country forward.

    “The invitation to Saraki over Offa Robbery is a direct fall-out of  the power play as the processes toward the 2019 general elections gathers momentum.

    “What the country needs  most is absolute peace and unity to achieve the sustenance of our democratic system,”  he said.

    Mrs Motunrayo Aboyade, a civil servant, believes the current travails of Saraki is  part of the on-going superiority tussle among APC  leaders ahead of   the 2019 general elections.

    “The case of armed robbery levelled against Saraki will not  hold water;  it is  a result of the powerful tussle at the top.

    “You can see that the invitation has now been replaced with a written explanation, that is to tell you that the whole thing is just a power game and the drama will continue to unfold with time,” Aboyade said.

    A lawmaker in  the Kwara House of Assembly, Hon.  AbdulRafiu  AbdukRahnan  condemned the police over the initial invitation to Saraki, saying it has negative political implications.

    Bisi Owolabi, the APC Chairman in Irepodun Local Government Area, on his part, sees the development  as “  continuation of the persecution of Saraki since the  inception of the present administration.’’

    He maintained that the persecution, if continued unchecked, was capable affecting the fortunes  of the party in future elections.

    “Saraki worked for the success of the party by winning all available position in the state and he is still very much committed to the party’s  principles and ideas,’’ he said.

    Another resident, Victor Peter,  urged public  institutions to “ refrain from playing  to the gallery because of politics.’’

    “The police cannot continue like this;  convicting people in the court of public opinion has never worked. They should do better; Nigerians deserve that.

    “Now that they have made a U-turn about their initial planned invitation to Dr Saraki, let’s see how it all plays out, but as usual, I  am confident that this case is dead on arrival,’’  Peter said.

  • Police give Saraki 48hrs to explain link with suspects

    Senate President Bukola Saraki will no longer visit the police over the April 5 Offa, Kwara State bank robbery, it was learnt yesterday.

    He is to write a statement, which he will send to the police.

    In all, 33 persons, including nine policemen, were gunned down during the operation.

    On Sunday, the police said Saraki would be invited to its Intelligence Response Team’s office in Guzepe, Abuja, to explain his relationship with the suspects., who claimed to be Saraki’s and Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s thugs.

    They also alleged that they were paid and armed by the duo. The suspects however, said neither Saraki nor Ahmed  asked them to rob and kill.

    Yesterday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo met at the Presidential Villa with Saraki, Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Department of State Services (DSS) Director General Lawal Daura and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami.

    At the end of the about one hour meeting, the IG declined comments on the outcome.

    He directed reporters to Osinbajo’s men to brief them on the outcome of the meeting. But they never did.

    Before that, Osinbajo, Malami, Daura and National Intelligence Agency Director General Ahmed Rufai had met for about one-and-a-half hours at the President’s office.

    The IG was not at that meeting.

    After the meeting with Osinbajo, Saraki announced that the police had asked him to explain in writing within 48 hours what he knew about the robbery suspects.

    In a tweet, Saraki said he received a letter from the Police, informing him that he should no longer bother to appear in person to answer questions.

    “They are no longer asking me to appear at the station, but to respond in writing to the allegation within 48 hours which I plan to do,” he tweeted. He had  earlier directed his ADC, Usman Na’ Abu Danguza, to collect from the Force Headquarters, Abuja the letter inviting him so that he could immediately honour the police invitation.

    Before the Police cancelled the invitation, a source said senators and some House of Representatives members were planning to accompany Saraki to Guzape any day he was to appear before the police.

    In Ilorin the Kwara State capital and Offa, the scene of  the bloody robbery, scores of people staged solidarity rallies in support of Saraki..

    The groups of youths, artisans and traders said the  robbery “cannot be used to settle political points.”

    Spokesman of the youths Peter Kayode said: “We are ready to walk from here in Kwara to Abuja in support of our leader.”

    Some the placards carried by the youths read: ‘Saraki is the leader in Kwara State; ‘ ‘We are one with Saraki in Kwara’; “Haha IGP, this is too much”’etc.

    An Offa chief, the Ojomu of Offa, Chief Joseph Akinola, told reporters that the community had left “whaT happened to God, but we don’t want the innocent to be punished. We want the police to go after the real culprits”.

    The National General Secretary of Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Chief Atinuke Wosilat McCarty, supported Akinola’s view.

    In Ilorin, the coalition of Kwara youths under the aegis of Kwara Agenda, asked the federal government and the Police to stop politicising the Offa robbery.

    Also, elders of Ajikobi Central Ward in Ilorin West Local  Government Area, where Saraki hails from, said they received with shock the invitation of the Senate President by the police.

    The elders, in a statement signed by their coordinator, Alhaji Salihu AbdulWahab Agbaji, said: “It is illogical and unthinkable that the Senate President and the political leader of Kwara State will ask bandits to kill the citizens that he leads.

    “‘The plot against our son is as a result of his growing popularity across the country, a situation which is making some of his political rivals uncomfortable. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently call the Inspector General of Police to order so as to allow our hard earned democracy to blossom.”

    Members of the coalition of Kwara youths during a peaceful protest condemned the invitation extended to Saraki.

    The youths, in their hundreds, carried placards with various inscription, such as “Stop evil politics” ;“Be professional”, “No to over politicisation of Offa robbery”, “Saraki is not an armed robber’ and “Don’t implicate Saraki.”

    The coordinator, Kwara Agenda, Haruna Yakub Kannike, said that the group was surprised by police invitation of Saraki, adding that “nothing can be farther from the truth!”.

    He added: “Our attention has been drawn to a fresh plot by the Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja to implicate the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki  in the April 5,2018 dastardly armed robbery attacks on banks in Offa, Kwara state. During the robbery operation that shook Offa to its foundation many innocent citizens including nine policemen were murdered by the bandit.

    “Prominent Nigerians have blamed the wanton killings of harmless citizens in Offa on that BLACK Day on the inefficiency of men and officers of the Nigeria Police.

    “We are, however, surprised to see the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris wanting to politicize a serious criminal offense by insinuating that our revered Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki and our amiable Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had links with five of the arrested armed robbery suspects. Nothing can be farther from the truth!”

  • nPDP suspends talks with presidency, APC over persecution of Saraki, others

    Following persecution of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and withdrawal of security aides of the principal officers of the National Assembly, the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) has suspended reconciliation talks with the presidency and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The nPDP said it was also angered by the decision of the APC leadership to go ahead with the ratification of all the Congresses from ward, local governments, states and zones where many of its members had complaints.

    It alleged that the Presidency was not interested in the talks and might have been negotiating in bad faith.

    It described the prevailing political environment in the country as “fouled and toxic.”

    “Based on the alleged infractions, the nPDP said it might not be available for talks unless good faith returns to the discussions.

    The scheduled session of all the parties in Abuja on Monday was aborted because of the protest

    The decision of the nPDP was contained in a statement issued by its chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

    The statement said: “The public may recall that there have been ongoing talks between members of the former nPDP, the APC and the Presidency in recent days.

    “Nigerians may further recall that a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and four others, were to meet with the Vice President, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo today.

    “However, while we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general elections, it  appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been negotiating in bad faith.

    “We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.

    “Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the Congresses from ward, local governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.”

    The nPDP said it was unfortunate that its members were being persecuted with state security apparatchik.

    It faulted the implication of Saraki and Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, in the armed robbery attack in Offa.

    The statement added: “The persecution of our members using state security apparatus have continued unabated.

    “We recognize the powers of the police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.

    “It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours, where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice President on Monday 28 May, 2018, have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the police under the directives of the Presidency.”

     

  • Offa robbery: Police make U-turn on Saraki’s invitation

    … Order Senate president to send written response within 48 hours

    The Police on Monday soft-pedaled on its invitation to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over his alleged link with the bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State.

    Saraki said on his Twitter handle – @bukolasaraki.9m – the police had asked him to send a written response on the matter within 48 hours.

    At least 33 people were killed in the robbery attack.

    The police had on Sunday directed the Senate president to report at the office of the Force Intelligence Response Team in Guzape, Abuja, to clear his name on the alleged complicity in the robbery incident.

    Saraki tweeted: “Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG.

    “They are no longer asking me to appear at the station, but to respond in writing to the allegation within 48 hours which I plan to do.”

     

  • Osinbajo meets IGP, DSS chief, AGF in Aso Rock

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday met behind closed doors with the Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the Director- General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami Abubakar.

    At the end of the meeting, the IGP declined comment on the outcome of the parley.

    He directed journalists who approached him to meet Osinbajo’s staff on the outcome of the meeting.

    Before the meeting, Osinbajo, Abubakar Malami, and Daura were seen around President Muhammadu Buhari’s office separately.

    The issues discussed at the meeting may not be unconnected with the police invitation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over the Offa bank robbery.

    At a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moshood Jimoh, said Saraki was linked to the Offa robbery for allegedly supplying arms and vehicles to political thugs who were arrested for their involvement in the bank robbery.

    Saraki had declared the accusation as baseless and another ploy by the police to implicate him by all means.

    However, in a dramatic twist, the police on Monday evening asked the Senate president to respond to the allegations within 48 hours.

  • Police: Saraki, Ahmed indicted for Offa robbery

    Senate President: it’s plot to embarrass me

    I’ve no link with suspects, says governor

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki is to be questioned by the police for alleged criminal indictment by five suspected gangsters involved in the April 5 bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State.

    He has been told to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office in Guzape, Abuja, to clear the air on the allegations against him.

    “Senate President Bukola Saraki is being invited to report to the Police to answer allegations indicting him from confessions of five gang leaders arrested for active participation in the Offa bank robbery and the killing of 33 innocent persons,” Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, an assistant commissioner, said yesterday.

    Giving an update on the investigation yesterday, Moshood said five of the suspects confessed  that they were political thugs used by the senate president and Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    The governor has denied any involvement as alleged.

    The five suspects Are: Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.

    “Ogunleye confessed to killing two persons, Abraham killed five persons, Azeez and Ogundiran killed two persons each during the robbery”, the police said.

    The robbers attacked five commercial banks, one microfinance bank and a police station. They killed 33 persons, including nine policemen and an expectant woman during the robbery.

    Twenty two suspects are in the police net.

    Among those being questioned, according to Moshood, are: Michael Adikwu, who the police described as a sectional gang leader, who killed 22 persons, mostly at the police station,   Kabiru Afolabi,    Omoseni Kassim, Kayode Opadokun, Kazeem Abdulrasheed, Azeez Abdullahi,   Adewale Popoola,  Adetoyese Muftau, Alexander Reuben,  Richard Buba Terry,   Peter Jasper Kuunfa,   Ikechukwu Ebuka Nnaji, Moses Godwin,    Adeola Omiyale and  Femi Idowu.

    “The five gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name ‘Youth Liberation Movement, a.k.a Good Boys’,” Moshood said, adding that the boys admitted to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles by Saraki and Ahmed.”

    Moshood said the suspects were grabbed following the arrest of two principal suspects, Kunle Ogunleye, known as “Arrow” and Michael Adikwu, an ex-convict.

    “The two principal suspects confessed to be among the suspects led by the five gang leaders to carry out the Offa bank robbery,” he said.

    He alleged that in the course of investigation, a Lexus GX-300 with a sticker number plate with the inscription “SARAKI” used by the gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun, was recovered.

    He said the vehicle was taken to the Government House, Ilorin on May 16 where the number plate was removed and replaced with another, Kwara, KMA 143 RM.

    “The exhibit vehicle was subsequently recovered from the premises of Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Ilorin, Kwara,” he added.

    Moshood said the sticker number plate removed from the vehicle was recovered from Adeola Omiyale who drove the vehicle to the Government House in Ilorin immediately after the bank robbery.

    He said millions of naira and 21 AK47 rifles belonging to the police in Offa were admitted to have been carted away during the bank robbery.

    Moshood listed items recovered from the suspects as including: “Two AK47 Rifles, Two Barrette Pistols, One Pump Action Rifle,   One Revolver Pistol – In Police Custody in Ilorin, Lexus RX300 Jeep with Reg. No. Kwara, KMA 143 RM belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (gang leader) – used for the bank robbery, Mercedes Benz – Compressor with Reg. No. Lagos LT496 KJA belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (gang leader) – used for the bank robbery and one Toyota Prado Jeep with Reg. No. 19KWGH belonging to the PA Political to the Executive Governor, Kwara State – in police custody in Ilorin.

    Other items are: “One Toyota Camry Saloon Car with Reg. No. LRN 481 FE – in police custody in Ilorin, N600,000.00 – in police custody in Ilorin, four phones of victims recovered, one sticker plate number with inscription “SARAKI” “Kwara, State of Harmony”

    Moshood alleged that the Personal Assistant (Political) to the Kwara Governor, Mr. Alabi Olalekan, had also been arrested for concealing information from the police.

    Also arrested is the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Yusuf Abdulwahab.

    According to him, Olalekan who was privy to information that the police were looking for the vehicle, directed Adeola Omiyale to relocate it to the Government House.

    “The PA is currently in police custody and has made useful statements assisting the police in further investigation into the case,” he said.

    He said that a revolver pistol and a pump action gun were recovered by the police investigation team from Olalekan’s farm where he directed his brother to hide them.

    The spokesman said 22 suspects involved in the bank robbery were in police custody.

    He said efforts were being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large and all suspects involved would be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigation.

    He said that the police would continue to ensure that the rule of law prevailed in every case under police investigation and offenders were brought to justice.

     

    I have no link with criminals, says Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday denied any links with the criminal elements, who robbed banks in Offa and killed 33 people.

    He however said he would visit the police after receiving a formal invitation.

    Saraki’s position is contained in a statement last night by his spokesman Yusuph Olaniyonu, who described his invitation as “part of the plan to abuse of the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work”.

    The statement said: “Dr. Saraki will want the entire public to disregard this claim as a baseless allegation and another ploy by the Police to implicate him by all means.

    “Let it be known that there is no way I could have been associated with armed robbery against my people. When the Offa robbery incident happened, I was the first top public official to pay a visit to the place and right there in the palace of the traditional ruler, I put a call through to this same Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the IGP, requesting him to make certain specific security arrangements as demanded by the people.

    “Members of the public will remember that on May 16, 2018, I alerted the Senate about the information passed on to me by my State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed, over a plot by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to frame me up by getting some suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin to implicate me. It is believed that the timely leakage of the plot in that case aborted the use of the suspected cultists to implicate me. Now, it is the Offa bank robbery suspects that are about to be used.

    “This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IGP, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the National Assembly, headed by me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.

    “Like the earlier one, this frame-up will also fail as I hereby state categorically that I have no link with any band of criminals.

    “As a person who has utmost respect for the rule of law and all constitutional institutions, when the invitation from the Police is formally extended to me, I will be ready to honour it without any delay.

    “It is however sad that this abuse of the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work, is a big threat to our democracy “.

  • Buhari, Obasanjo, Saraki, Dickson mourn ex-Appeal Court president

    pRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo  Senate President Bukola Saraki and Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson have paid tribute to the late former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi.

     

    President: he was a man of enviable integrity

     

    Buhari described him as a man, whose greatest asset in life was his enviable integrity and incorruptibility.

    The President believed that Justice Akanbi would be long remembered for his enormous contributions in bringing credibility and respectability to the country’s judiciary.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that the death of the pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is a colossal loss to the Nigerian judiciary and the country as a whole.

    According to the President, “being respected by the people for your honesty and patriotism is the best legacy a man can leave behind.

    “In a country where corruption is perceived as fashionable, Akanbi stood out as a remarkable man who put personal integrity and selflessness before the desire for money outside his legitimate income.”

    The President affirmed that Justice Akanbi’s greatest achievement was leaving the public service with his integrity intact and untainted.

     

    ‘A paragon of rectitude is gone’

     

    Obasanjo  said the late ICPC was a man who radiated honesty and integrity.

    In a condolence letter to Akanbi’s eldest child, Akeem Akanbi and signed by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo described the late  Akanbi as a distinguished Nigerian, an icon, a paragon of rightness and rectitude, who devoted his life to the service of Nigeria.

    The ex-President revealed that the demise of Akanbi has left him in a “sorrowful” state since it happened.

    The letter reads: “It is with a grieving heart, but with obedience to the will of the Almighty that I write to commiserate with you and other members of your family over the painful demise of your loving father, our most revered Hon. Justice Muhammad Mustapha Adebayo Akanbi.

    “News of his death today, Sunday, June 3, 2018, came to me as a jarring shock far away in Dubai.  But we mortals can never question the designs of the Almighty Allah.

    “In a country like ours, which is abundantly endowed with stars and frontiersmen, Justice Akanbi was one genuine patriot who radiated dominantly within our national space and beyond. He was a distinguished Nigerian, an icon, a paragon of rightness and rectitude, whose life is devoted entirely to the service of his nation. He was a role model and a nationalist.”

    Saraki says Akanbi was a honest, principled jurist

     

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the late Akanbi as an indefatigable, honest and principled jurist, who upheld the fine ethics of the judicial process till he breathed his last.

    “I am sad that Baba (Akanbi) has left us. He was fearless, courageous and spoke truth to power during his lifetime,” Saraki said.

    One of the finest justices is gone, says Dickson

     

    Dickson commiserated with the governments and people of Kwara State over the demise of Akanbi.

    The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, described Akanbi as one of the finest justices in Nigeria.

    Dickson said while on the bench, Akanbi dispensed justice without fear or favour.

    He said: “Justice Akanbi was a courageous judge who used the bench to dispense justice without fear or favour and rose to be President of Court of Appeal.  As Chairman of ICPC,  he fought corruption to a standstill for which we are grateful to him. His death is clearly an irredeemable loss to the country. ”

     

     

  • Offa robbery: Saraki will honour Police invitation-aide

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said that he would honour police invitation if officially invited.

    Saraki’s new media aide,  Olu Onemola disclosed this hours after the reported invitation by the police over allegations by suspects of the Offa bank robbery.

    Saraki said that he would honour police invitation as a law abiding citizen who has respect for the rule of law .

    Saraki’s media aide Twitted the statement on Olu W. Onemola @ OnemolaOlu on behalf of his principal.

    It said: “As someone that respects the rule of law and constituted authorities, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has read the story going around on social media and he will honour the invitation when served”.

    The Police had on Sunday afternoon in Abuja declared that Saraki should report to its  Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja, for interrogation on alleged  relationship between him and five out of the 15 principal suspects arrested for Offa Banks Robbery on April .

    The statement by the Force Public Relations Officer ACP Jimoh Moshood,  said though the suspects did not say that Saraki sent them on the robbery mission , but made confessional statements indicting Saraki and the Executive Governor of Kwara State , Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed of encouragement in the act through periodic  empowerment.

  • Offa robbery: Plot concocted to embarrass me, says Saraki

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Sunday said that the plot to link him with the deadly Offa robbery incident was concocted by the police to embarrass him.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, (Media and Publicity) Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that there was no way he could have been associated with armed robbery against his own people.

    He said that the plot to link him with the robbery attack was Inspector General of Police, Ibraham Idris’ attempt to get at him after the IGP refused to honour Senate invitation to answer questions on the spate of killings in the country.

    Saraki said in the statement entitled “Our response to claims by police”: “The attention of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has been drawn to a story circulating online and apparently derived from a Press Conference addressed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moshood Jimoh, linking him (Saraki) to the Offa robbery.

    “Dr. Saraki will want the entire public to disregard this claim as a baseless allegation and another ploy by the Police to implicate him by all means.

    “”Let it be known that there is no way I could have been associated with armed robbery against my people. When the Offa robbery incident happened, I was the first top public official to pay a visit to the place and right there in the palace of the traditional ruler, I put a call through to this same Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the IGP, requesting him to make certain specific security arrangements as demanded by the people.

    “”Members of the public will remember that on May 16, 2018, I alerted the Senate about the information passed on to me by my State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed, over a plot by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to frame me up by getting some suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin to implicate me.

    “It is believed that the timely leakage of the plot in that case aborted the use of the suspected cultists to implicate me. Now, it is the Offa bank robbery suspects that are about to be used.

    “”This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IGP, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the National Assembly, headed me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.

    “”Like the earlier one, this frame-up will also fail as I hereby state categorically that I have no link with any band of criminals.

    “”As a person who has utmost respect for the rule of law and all constitutional institutions, when the invitation from the Police is formally extended to me, I will be ready to honour it without any delay.

    “”It is however sad that this abuse of the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work, is a big threat to our democracy ,” the Senate President  stated.”

  • Suspects: Our roles in the Offa robbery, connection with Saraki

    Some of the suspects involved in Offa robbery on Sunday narrated the roles they played during the robbery that claimed 33 lives, including nine policemen and their relationship with Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki.

     

    They were taught how to use guns before they went for the operation.

     

    Ayoade Akinnibosun who holds a B.Ed. in Guidance and Counselling from Ekiti State University said: “I am the Chairman of Liberation Youth Movement, Kwara South. We are the Senate President’s boys. We work for him at Kwara South.  We are the ones that hold Kwara South for him. We have three senatorial districts in Kwara State; there are some people in Kwara North and Central but we control the South.

    “We have been working for him since when he was the governor of Kwara State.  When he was in PDP.”

     

    On the nature of work they do for him; he said: “We mobilize for him and we are the ones that do political arrangements for him. For example, where we cannot win, we mobilize people and make ‘dabaru’ arrangement there. We scatter elections if we don’t win.”

     

    On Saraki’s connection with the bank robbery,  Akinnibosun said: “He is the one that arranges everything for us. For example, this car (Lexus jeep) was given to me by His Excellency, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed  through the Chief of Staff of Kwara State as a gift from the leader, Senator Bukola Saraki. I participated in Offa robbery and I took the Lexus Jeep along to Offa.

    READ ALSO: OFFA ROBBERY: POLICE INVITE SARAKI

    On whether the Senate President and the Governor encouraged them to rob and kill people, Akinnibosun said: “The Senate President and the Governor of Kwara State; we have been their political thugs. So that was what encouraged us to do what we did.”

     

    On how they got the weapons: “It was through one dismissed Police officer, Michael Adikwu.  He was the one that came with ammunitions. That fateful day, it was, Arrow,  Alex, Stand Well Well and Niyi. It was five of us that went. We took off from Ajase Ipo with another Mercedes Benz to Offa. When we got to Offa, I positioned everybody but I stood at Total filling station. When we got there, we met Michael Adikwu who came out from one Audi car.  He brought out five AK47 from a Nissan vehicle which was parked in front of him.”

     

    On whether Saraki was aware of the robbery before they embarked on it, he said: “They did not send us for the robbery but because we are their political thugs, that was why we did what we did.”

     

    On why he decided to rob considering that he could easily access the Senate President and the Governor and ask for anything,  Akinnibosun said: “It is the work of the devil.”

     

    On who gave him guns for political thuggery, he said: “It is the Chief of Staff to Kwara State Governor but he was not aware we were going to rob with it.”

     

    Akinnibosun while saying he regrets his actions said: “We the youths of Nigeria should not allow ourselves to be used. We should not allow anybody to deceive us with anything. There is nothing out there. They are only deceiving us with stipends. My fellow youths, I am begging you with the name of God.”

     

    On whether they were on the payroll of the Senate President, Akinnibosun said: “We don’t get paid in salary form. They give us money whenever the Senate President is around. We get N200,000 sometimes and N300,000.”

     

     

    On the amount to they made from the robbery, he said: “I cannot say because all we got was kept with Michael Adikwu. We did not share it immediately because he said if we do, we will be caught by the Police.”

     

    Another suspect, Ibukunle Ogunleye who claimed be a wood seller and also into politics said the Offa robbery was the first operation he ever went for.

     

    On his involvement, he said: “I went to the same school with Akinnibosun.  My involvement in Offa robbery was that our leader,  Ayoade introduced the robbery to me and I later spread it to my two mechanics; Stand Well Well and Niyi.”

     

    On why he killed people on that day: “The two people I killed was done out of fear because I was being disturbed when the whole thing was going on.

     

    “I was disturbed by Michael Adikwu because he was shouting that the Nigeria Police dismissed him, took his job from him and that we will do them “Shege”. That was the word he used.”

     

    On how he learnt how to use gun, he said: “It was Michael that taught us how to use guns. A day to the robbery, he was trying to teach us in a bush at a Ajase Ipo.”

     

    On how long it took them to plan the robbery, Ogunleye said: “I don’t know how long it took Michael but it was three days to the robbery that I got to know about it by Akinnibosun.”

     

     

    Another suspect, Adeola Abraham who is a mechanic and killed five people during the robbery said he hails from Oro, Irepodun LGA.

     

    On his involvement in the robbery, he said: “I killed five people.”

     

    “While we were on operation,  we were outside the bank and as the operation was on, the people were stoning us. They were shouting thief thief and kept on stoning. One of the stones hit me and so I got angry and decided to shoot them.”

     

     

    Another suspect who is also a mechanic, Salawudeen Azeez said it was Michael who gave him gun.

     

    He said: “I am a mechanic who specializes in Japanese motor. They told me that they wanted explain something to me and when I met them, they told me that we were going to rob.

     

    “Niyi Ogundiran told me to stand in front of Zenith Bank. They gave me a gun to hold in case things go wrong and when things went wrong, I killed two people.”

     

     

    On his part, Niyi Ogundiran who hails from Oro too said he was also a mechanic who repairs Benz adding that Ogunleye was his customer.

     

    “They brought a car to me to repair, it was while I was repairing it that they briefed me on what they wanted to do and I decided to follow them. I was told we were going to share whatever we make from the operation but we ended up with nothing. I only killed two people.”