By Kayode Adeoti
Will the CCTV footage exonerate the suspects arrested in connection with Offa Banks robbery that claimed no fewer than 33 lives on 5th April, 2018?
Will the prosecution team led by Prof. Abdulwahab Egbewole (SAN) play the CCTV footage before the court to affirm policeโs claims that the five suspects facing trial are the real perpetrators of the dastard act?
These are questions and many more have been on the lips of many, especially those who lost their loved ones in the robbery attacks that were carried out in seven commercial Banks in the ancient city of Offa.
The suspects facing trial are; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.
At the last hearing of the case before Justice Saleeman Salman of the Kwara State High Court, there was anxiety when the defence counsel, Mathias Emeribe applied for the CCTV footage of the banks that were robbed.
He premised his reason on the need for the court to ascertain whether his clients especially, the second accused person took part in the robbery incident as claimed by the police.
According to him, since police claimed that the second accused was seen in the CCTV footage, it should be played to know the truth of the matter.
He argued that all theย confessional statement submitted as evidence by the police were all lies, stressing that the statement did not fulfill and pass the test of the law.
“I hold the view that the statements have failed to pass the test of admissibility”, said the defence counsel.
He said further that section 33 of the Kwara State Administration of Criminal Justice Law is not applicable in the case.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Egbewole objected to the application, saying that it is within the power of court to tell them to tender any document relevant in the case when necessary.
He said that as evidence in court, the witness, Insp. Hitila Hassan did not tender any CCTV footage, photographs or videos.
He argued further that the defence counsel cannot compel him to tender the evidence.
He added that “law does not have retrospective effect, adding that the Kwara State Administration of Criminal Justice Law came into force December 3rd, 2018 and all these statements were recorded in May last year”.
The presiding Judge, Halimat Salman overulled the defense counsel while the matter was adjourned till July 4 for continuation of hearing.
Recall that on the 5th of April, 2018, the armed bandits took the town by the jugular and brought it down to its knees. The men of the underworld on this fateful day operated in a commando style with sophisticated weapons attacked and robbed seven banks simultaneously and unhindered.
Eco Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, GTBank, Union Bank, Stockcorps Micro Finance Bank and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank were financial institutions robbed in an operation that began at about 5pm on 5th April and lasted for more than an hour. No fewer than 33 persons including nine police officers were killed in the incident.
The robbers did not only steal, they killed and destroyed. They shot sporadically at everything in sight. By the time the dust raised by the incident had settled, scores of bodies littered the streets of Offa. The robbers left in their trail sorrow, tears and blood.
