A major scandal is brewing between the Nigeria Police force headquarters and the Federal Ministry of Justice as reports gathered have revealed that most of the cash and weapons recovered from the Offa Robbery gang by the police has gone missing, also missing is the statement of the late leader of the gang who died in police custody thereby making it difficult to prosecute the suspects.
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Armed robbers invaded the town of Offa, in Kwara state on April 5, robbing six banks and carting away billions of Naira after killing 31 persons, including nine of policemen; they also made away with 21 rifles.
After the attack, the police high command in Abuja moved into Kwara state and apprehended the suspects before they could share their loot and disperse from the State. While all the suspects- Michael Adikwu, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Ibrahim, Salawudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran were arrested, the police never made mention of the recovered cash and rifles.
According to the Saturday Vanguard, it has also been discovered that the voluntary statement made by the late Adikwu, the mastermind of the robbery has gone missing.
Apparently the statement was never included in the two case files submitted by the Inspector General’s office to the office of the Attorney General of the federation in its preparation towards the trial of the suspects.
The missing elements have led to a disagreement between the police and the Federal Ministry of Justice, which has already washed off its hands in prosecuting the suspects, saying that armed robbery matters fall within the purview of states where they take place and as such was not the duty of the federal government.
The Justice Ministry is also reportedly appalled at the death of the ring leader of the robbery gang at the hands of the police, making it difficult to get proper evidence regarding the whereabouts of the stolen guns and money.
Even though the ministry has handed over the case file to the Kwara State Ministry of Justice to prosecute, the federal ministry of justice strongly believes the statement volunteered by the ringleader, Adikwu, to the police, the recovery of the cash stolen from the banks and the weapons used in the fatal attacks, would be vital to the case.
Consequently, the Justice ministry strongly advised the police high command to take necessary steps to produce the money and guns involved in the robbery.
The justice ministry further queried the report by the police that some of the suspects had ties to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki as well as the state Governor.
The justice ministry said, the statements did not in any way indicate the specific items or weapons bought by any of the mentioned politicians and as such no weapons or vehicles could be tied to them.
Excerpts from the report of the Justice Ministry read;
“That some of the suspects claimed to be political thugs of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed. That in the course of investigation, a letter dated 4th of June, 2018 was written to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki requesting him to respond to the allegations of sponsorship of the political thugs and provision of arms against him by the suspects particularly, Ayoade Akinnibosun. That the Senate President replied in a letter dated 7th June, 2018 and referenced NASS/8TH/S/SP/IGP/15/6/18 wherein he denied all the contents of the letter in its entirety. That the following exhibits were recovered in the course of investigation though no indication was made as to which exhibit was recovered from whom in the interim investigation report: Two AK 47 rifles, two Beretta pistols, one Pump Action rifle, one Revolver pistol, Lexus RX 300 Jeep with Reg. No. KWA 143 RM, Mercedes Benz – Compressor with Reg. No. LT 494 KJA, one Toyota Prado Jeep with Reg. No. 19 KWGH and one Toyota Camry Saloon Car with Reg. No. LRN 481 FE. The loopholes led to the clearance of Saraki, Governor Ahmed and his chief of Staff by the OHAGF.”
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