Court told that primary suspect in brutal Offa bank robbery died while in police custody

POLICE have revealed that the primary suspect in the brutal Offa bank robbery that took place on April 5 leading to the death of 33 people a dismissed constable identified as Michael Adikwu has died in their custody.

Testifying in court yesterday, Kamaldeen Ajibade, the Kwara State attorney-general and justice commissioner, said that the head of investigation team, Abba Kyari, had informed him that Mr Adikwu was dead. Five of the suspects named as Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran, were, however, arraigned in court.

Upon his arrest, Mr Adikwu was said to have confessed to being the mastermind of the bloody operation which involved five commercial banks being attacked. Mr Ajibade. who said that the police were yet to provide details of Mr Adikwu’s death, added that that the five suspects brought to court could not be charged until an amendment was made on the charge sheet.

“We have the names of six suspects on our charge sheet but they brought five suspects. We cannot go on with the case until we amend the charges because we cannot prosecute a dead person," Mr Ajibade added.

Also, Mr Ajibade said that the case could not go on for now because the suspects had no legal representation. He thus urged the court to adjourn the case so that the charges could be amended and the suspects could get a legal team to represent them.

Last week, the two lawyers who were representing the suspects announced their withdrawal from the case. Justice Halima Salman adjourned the matter until November 30 and ordered that the suspects should get a legal team.