Following the allegations by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki that Michael Adikwu, the principal suspect in the April 5, Offa robbery incident (which claimed 33 innocent persons) had been murdered in police custody and that the Presidency institute a judicial inquiry into the death of the suspect to determine “how and when the suspect died,” the police has on Thursday reacted.
Responding to the claims in a statement, police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood said that Michael Adikwu was not murdered but slumped and died in detention while an investigation into the Offa Bank Robbery was ongoing,” adding that there is a post-mortem examination result in respect of the death of the suspect.
Moshood had earlier stated that “the Nigeria Police Force is conversant and mindful of contempt of Court in commenting on cases already before the Court of competent jurisdiction,” but said it was constrained and compelled to respond to the allegations by the Senate President, through his media aide, Yusuf Olaniyonu, and set the record straight.
Adikwu who the police described as a sectional gang leader, dismissed policeman and ex- convict, that confessed to have killed Twenty Two (22) persons including pregnant women and nine Police personnel and carted away 22 AK 47 Rifles at the Offa Police Divisional Headquarters during Offa Bank Robbery on the 5th April 2018, according to the force, was not paraded along with the Five (5) gang leaders now standing trial because he was taken out to arrest other members of the gang and recover the Twenty Two (22) AK 47 Rifles carted away during the Offa Bank Robbery.
Related: 7 months after, here’s what happened to the principal suspect in the Offa robbery
Speaking further, the police image maker said “it is also important for the public to know that the deceased Michael Adikwu ‘M’ 30Yrs was not among the Five (5) gang leaders that indicted and implicated the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, therefore, his death cannot in anyway vindicate Senator Bukola Saraki.”
Stressing that “the law must take its course, Moshood added that “All Five (5) suspects that indicted and implicated Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate President Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Offa Bank Robbery are alive and now in Court. “Evidence from the Five (5) suspects now in Court are enough to prosecute the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.”
“The indictment of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki from the confessions of the Five (5) gang leaders namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery was not politically motivated as alleged by Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki to the media, but purely criminal case,” the statement read in part.
Read also: Offa robbery: If Michael Adikwu is dead, where is Kayode Opadokun?
Temidayo Taiwo-Sidiq is a Journalist, Political Analyst and Satirist with major interest in Nigerian Politics, Governance and Sports.
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