By Mumini Abdulkareem
Four suspects of the April 5, 2018 Offa, Kwara state bank robbery last week, told an Ilorin High Court how they killed no fewer than eleven persons during the incident.
The suspects Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Azeez Salawu and Niyi Ogundiran were all present in the court
At the resumed hearing of the case, Counsel to the prosecution Mr. Rotimi Jacob called the seventh witness, Inspector El-John Nwoke, who is the cinematographer attached to the force Public Relations unit, Abuja.
Nwoke then presented a DVD video to the open court that contained the confessional statements of the defendants.
All but one of the defendants—Ayoade Aknnibosun—in the video said that they shot dead eleven persons, who were hauling stones and other missiles at them.
Ayoade Akinnibosun narrated how a dismissed police officer, Michael Adikwu (now late) sold the robbery idea to him, adding that he in turn conscripted his other four accomplices to the deal.
Akinnibosun, who claimed to be the ring leader in the video revealed that he owned the two vehicles used for the bloody robbery operation.
He said that one of the vehicles, Lexus sport utility vehicle (SUV) was given to him as an empowerment by the then Kwara state Governor as he was the leader of political liberation movement in Kwara South.
He added: “I came into contact with the dismissed policeman (Adikwu) through a revenue collection stuff. After the meeting with Adikwu, I relayed to Ibikunle Ogunleye who also relayed same to Adeola Abraham otherwise known as Adex. Azeez Salawu and Niyi Ogundiran are both mechanics.
“On the fateful day of April 5th, 2018, the five of us moved from, Oro in Irepodun local government area of the state to Ajase-Ipo where we parked the SUV under a tree and we all drove in the Mercedes Benz to Offa. At Offa, we parked in front of the Total filling station where late Adikwu was waiting for us in a black Audi car.
“There was also a Nissan Premeria car parked in front of us at the Total filling station where some other people that came with Adikwu were waiting. Shortly, thereafter Adikwu handed over a sack to me containing five AK47 rifles.
“As the commander of my gang, I distributed the guns and directed every member to take his position. I positioned myself at the Roundabout leading to Igosun from Offa.
“After the robbery Adikwu did not give us a dime. He only promised to call me when it is time to share the loot. Then we all hurriedly left the community. On getting to Ijagbo, Oyun local government area, our vehicle stretched to a halt awaiting Adikwu who came and collected the five AK47 from me.”
Also speaking, Ibikunle Ogunleye (2nd defendant) said he was traditionally positioned at the First Bank premises in the metropolis before Adikwu dragged him to come along to the Offa police station.
He added that he shot dead two people who were trying to escape at the gate of the police station.
He said that at the police station Adikwu and his gangs fired many shots at the station killing scores of policemen in the process.
In their own testimonies, Adeola Abraham, Azeez Salawu and Niyi Ogundiran said that they had never handled rifle before the robbery incident.
However, each of Abraham, Salawu and Ogundiran confessed to have shot dead five, two and two persons respectively to prevent being stoned to death by members of the public.
Presiding Judge, Justice Haleemah Salman adjourned the case to March 15th and 16th for the continuation of trial.
Lead EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) has taken over as the lead prosecuting counsel in the case.
