By Kayode Adeoti
The hearing of the Offa banks robbery case began on Friday with a member of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rapid Response Team, (RRT), deployed to investigate the incident, Itina Hassan, revealing how the operation was planned, executed and how the suspects were arrested.
Recall that the incident which took place on April 5, 2018 claimed no fewer than 33 lives including nine 9 police officers.
Hassan, who was the second witness in the criminal case before Justice Haleeman Salman was led in evidence by the prosecutor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN.
Hassan, in his testimony before the court said the five suspects; Ayo Akinnibosun, aka ‘AY’, Ibikunle Ogunleye, aka ‘Arrow’, Abraham Adeola aka, ‘Adex’, Salaudeen Azeez aka ‘Stand well well’ and Niyi Ogundiran disclosed in their confessional statements that they participated in the bloodletting incident.
He said they were arrested one after the other in Oro town, a community in Irepodun Local Government of the state.
Speaking on their arrest, Hassan said, “On 5th April, 2018, I was in my office in Abuja when we heard through social media that a serious robbery happened in Offa and police station was attacked. After some hours, we got message from the IG that about seven banks were robbed and nine police officers were killed including innocent citizens.
“He deployed a team of police led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari to investigate the matter. We’re about 10 in the team. When we got to Kwara, the Commissioner gave us an investigation team too, we moved down to Offa where we met CSP Adamu, who took us round where his officers were killed.
Arrest
The witness informed the court that the first person to be nabbed by the RRT was Ibikunle Ogunleye.
“He was arrested in Oro and brought to the Kwara State Police Command. Initially, he denied his involvement but after questioning and we tendered his picture captured by the CCTV, he accepted that he was the one inside the bank with AK 47. We asked how he managed, then he narrated his roles.
“He told me and my colleagues that on the 2nd April, 2018, himself and Akinibosun, went to Ajase-Ipo and met one Micheal Adikwu at a food vendor stand. He said Adikwu told them of the plans to rob in Offa. After their discussion, Arrow, asked about the ammunitions that will be used and Adikwu told him not to bother saying he will look for means as a dismissed police officer.
“Ogunleye said when they were about to leave, the 3rd accused person, Abraham Adeola aka, ‘Adex’, came in and it was the 2nd accused that explained what transpired in the meeting to him. On getting to Oro, Ogunleye met the 4th accused person, Azeez and told him that in any bank robbery operation, there must be a mechanic and iron bender, that was how they were invited.
“They all agreed to participate in the bank robbery and on 3rd April, 2018, Adikwu met the gang in Oro to hold the second meeting and that was when they concluded on 5th April 2018 for the robbery. Three of them attended the meeting, AY, Ogunleye and Abraham.”
Speaking further, Hassan said, on April 5, Ogunleye said in his statement that he received a call from AY asking of where they are saying other gang members are waiting for them in Offa.
“AY dedicated his two cars for the operation, Mercedes Benz Compressor for the robbery which he handed over to Ogunleye as driver. Three other gang members, Adeola, Azeez and Niyi were called on the phone and Ogunleye went to pick them up at the mechanic workshop. Abraham was picked at a place called Abe Igi in Oro, they met AY in Ajase-Ipo where he packed his Nissan Lexus jeep… AY left the jeep in Ajase-Ipo to join them in the Benz making five in the car.
“They drove down to Offa and packed the car in front of Total filing station. While AY was trying to call Adikwu, he came down from one Audi, AY too came down from his Benz to hold discussion with other persons inside one Nissan Primera, who are now at large.
“AY, Adikwu and other persons whom he said he does not know their names brought a sack that contained five AK 47… AY shared the guns among his colleagues and also gave them positions. Niyi was asked to stay with the car; he positioned Azeez, Abraham at the centre of the road, in front of the banks to block incoming and outgoing vehicles. AY took charge of the roundabout. Ogunleye followed Adikwu to First bank and Zenith bank.
“After robbing the banks, Adikwu told him to follow him to the police station. They entered Audi saloon car and moved in convoy with Nissan Primera occupants including Abraham. On getting to the police station, all of them came down, Ogunleye mounted the station entrance with AK 47.
“Immediately Adikwu entered the station, he shouted that the police dismissed him adding that he has come for revenge, he opened fire and killed people. Ogunleye said when he saw people coming, he felt they wanted to attack him, so he shot and killed them.
“Afterwards, he saw Adikwu with his gang carrying AK 47, six were taken at the police station, he was asked to open the boot, where the guns were dropped.
“…They left the police station and returned to the roundabout where the Benz Compressor was parked…Adikwu shouted, ‘let’s go’, some members of the gang drove through Ipee road while others went through Ajase-Ipo road where they parked the Lexus jeep.
“When they arrived Ajase, AY collected all the guns, put them inside the sack and then dropped them in his Lexus jeep and headed to Ilorin while others went to Oro with the Benz. When Ogunleye got to Oro, AY called him on the phone to know if they got home safely. When he said they have arrived, AY exclaimed saying the operation is successful.
