Robbery: How Yinka Are’s son, others collected N.7m, gold, phone, set home ablaze – Victims
By Kayode Adeoti
No fewer than four witnesses stormed Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Monday to testify against Tunde Zubair, the son of notorious ex-convict, Yinka Are who was arraigned for armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.
Zubair was charged to court with four members of his gang namely; Timothy Oyebanji, Olatunji Ariyo, Lukman Olateju, Ganiyu Yaro.
The suspects are facing trial for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms contrary to section 6b, 128 of robbery act and theft contrary to section 287 of the federal code law.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution team headed by the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Barr. Jimoh Adebimpe Mumini introduced the four witnesses.
The first witness, Insp. Dada Yusuf is an exhibit keeper at the state Criminal Investigative and Intelligent Department (CIID) who testified to have registered different live ammunitions recovered by the police from the leader of the gang, the day he was brought to his office.
The second witness, Ibrahim Shuaib who is a resident of Agbarere in Ilorin told the court that he was attacked early in the morning by Ariyo and his boys while preparing his son for school.
He said he went out to check those shooting when he heard sporadic gunshots only to see the accused persons pointing gun at him and consistently warning him to consider himself dead if he dared run.
The witness told the court that he complied strictly with the dictates of the bandit as they searched him thoroughly.
“They collected N300,000 from me and also removed my Nokia phone, as I pleaded for my life, the leader of the bandit instructed me to keep quiet otherwise, I will die.
“They matched me inside and collected all the useful things in the house,” he divulged. Shuaib explained further that he came out after about 10 minutes, thinking they had gone, but saw them again saying they started chasing him, with the intention of killing him. The victim said he was lucky to eventually escape but not without sustaining injuries.
Also, the aged third witness, Lukman Isaa, intimated the court that the bandit invaded his house around 11:pm and set it ablaze after they had taken all they needed.
“I was begging them but the leader of the gang replied that today is not for begging, but after they’ve taken valuable items in the house, they set it ablaze. It was an act of wickedness I found most dreadful coming from young boys of their age,” he said.
The fourth Witness, Banu who is a businessman told the court that he had just returned from Ibadan when the bandits stormed his house with gun and other dangerous weapons.
According to him, they collected the sum of N400,000, which he realised from his daily sale in Ibadan, collected 4 grams of gold, chicken and turkey.
The sitting judge, Adenike Akinpelu adjourned the case till July 26, 2017.
Recall that Zubair, was arrested by men of the Nigerian police force along Egbe Federal Highway in Osi, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state on July 28, 2016.
He was arraigned then for belonging to a secret cult society known as Eiye Confraternity contrary to section 2 of the secret cults and secret society (Prohibition) law of Kwara State 2016 and punishable under section14 of the same law.
Also, for unlawful possession of locally made gun loaded with live cartridge, punishable under Section 3 (1) of the robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act 2004.
