KWARA STATE POLICE COMMAND ARRESTS DEFENCE WITNESS IN OFFA BANK ROBBERY 02-02-24
By Sadiq Aminu There was a mild drama today at Kwara state High court presided over by Justice Halimat Salman as a witness Omolara Ogundiran was arrested by the Police after tendering a receipt in evidence in the April 5, 2018 deadly Offa bank armed robbery case in which over thirty persons were killed .
The Police operative had intended to prevent the eleventh Defence witness who was the younger sister to the fifth defendant Niyi Ogundiran to give evidence in the case ,but were ordered by the court to allow her till after she gave her evidence.
Michael Adikwu (deceased), Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham were arrested in connection with the bloody armed robbery.
Led in evidence by the defence counsel Mathias Emeribe ,the witness,Omolara Ogundiran said she went to Osogbo to collect the receipt of vehicle parts bought by her older brother fifth defendant ,Niyi Ogundiran on the day of Offa bank robbery.
She said the vehicle parts seller in Osogbo one Mallam Ali wrote the receipt of the said transaction from the booklets in his possession.
The witness noted that the receipt was in her possession until it was sought for by the lawyer.
Crossed examined by the Prosecution Counsel ,Rotimi Jacob SAN,the defence witness said she went to Osogbo alone to collect the receipt.
She explained that the business owner Mallam Ali signed his own part and she cannot remember who signed for the customer.
The witness maintained that the receipt was issued to her in year 2023 and not in 2018 when the incident happened.
On April 5th , 2018, some suspected armed robbers attacked five commercial banks in the ancient Offa town in Offa local government area of Kwara state, killing over 30 persons in the process, including nine policemen..