By Omowumi Omotosho
A political group, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vanguard has hailed the death sentence ruling by the Kwara State High Court on Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran, involved in the 2018 Offa bank robbery.
In a statement released by the Director of Communications and Strategies for PDP Vanguard, Sulaiman Onimago, the group stated that the court’s decision has vindicated Saraki, whose name had been dragged into the controversy surrounding the incident.
“This news serves as a relief to Kwarans, especially the people of Offa — as the armed robbers embarked on a killing spree, sending shock waves across the entire country.
“Worthy of note is the politicisation of the unfortunate incident by unscrupulous political actors, alleging the President of the 8th Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the mastermind of the robbery. Today’s ruling could be described as a relief to his supporters, who have consistently sought justice for the victims while distancing themselves from the politicization of this tragic event. Which is a disaster to all and sundry,” the statement read
The PDP Vanguard’s statement also highlighted the wrongful methods used during the investigation, specifically the involvement of the former Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari. Kyari was accused of torturing the suspects to obtain false confessions aimed at implicating Saraki.
“Recall that the dismissed ACP Abba Kyari was reported to have forced a confession out of the perpetrators in an attempt to indict the former President of the 8th Senate. We are glad that the incident has now been laid to rest and justice has been served.
“One of the suspects, Mr Akininibosin in narrating how disgraced ACP Abba Kyari attempted to force a statement from him stated that “My hands and legs were tied to the back and suspended in between two tables by iron rod for like one hour 30 minutes. Then the senior police officer, Abba Kyari, came around to tell me that I should say that it was Dr.Abubakar Bukola Saraki that gave us guns to rob Offa banks,” the PDP Vanguard stated.
The statement also condemned the police actions, stating that: “this once again reflects the rot in our police system, the brutality employed by detractors and opposing actors, and we are pleased that nemesis caught up with the former ACP, who went from grace to grass.”
The PDP Vanguard’s statement went on to congratulate the people of Offa, noting that while the judgment cannot undo the tragic loss of lives, it represents a long-awaited closure.
“Once again, we are particularly happy about the judgement by the Court, and remain with the people of Offa, while offering prayers to the families of the victims. This judgement does not restore the damage the incident did to the former President of Senate nor bring back the dead, whose lives were wasted,” the statement further read.
The group further urged political actors to refrain from exploiting tragedies for political gains, and called on Saraki to consider legal action against those who persist in associating him with the robbery.
“we hope political actors will exercise caution and prioritise pursuit for justice above political gains and propaganda. While also charging the former Senate President to pursue legal actions against state-sponsored elements still labelling him as the mastermind of the horroful incident,” the PDP Vanguard asserted.
The PDP Vanguard also extended congratulations to the Olofa of Offa, the Offa Descendant Union, and the entire Offa community for their resilience throughout the ordeal.
“We congratulate HRM, Olofa of Offa, on this judgment, we congratulate Offa Descendant Union, and all sons and daughters of Offa on this judgment, and pray against such reoccurrence, the group stated.
The statement concluded with a message of hope and justice, reaffirming that despite the challenges, truth and justice will always prevail. “Today, we are extremely happy with the judgment of the Court, and once again reassured that no matter how long, justice shall always trump evil,” the PDP Vanguard concluded.
