A witness, Shamaudeen Bada, has told Kwara State High Court how men of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), led by DCP Abba Kyari, tortured them to implicate former senate president, Bukola Saraki, in the April 5, 2018 Offa robbery incident.
Bada, who is a former vice chairman of Irepodun local government area of Kwara State, recounted his experience yesterday during the resumed trial of the suspects in the robbery at the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin.
Five suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham and two others, were charged to court by the police for criminal conspiracy to rob the banks, murder of nine policemen and other citizens, and illegal possession of firearms.
When families of the suspects threatened the police with court case, the IRT operatives said they were taking instructions directly from the IGP, and that there was no court from Kwara that could stop their operations, the witness narrated.
During cross examination at the resumed trial, he said while in detention, the IRT operatives promised to free them if they named Saraki as their sponsor. He, however, said Ayo Akinrinbosun was shot in the leg when he declined to indict Saraki.
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“After he was shot, I became very nervous, depressed and my health started deteriorating. DCP Abba Kyari brought some nurses to treat me. Before I was eventually released, the police officers gave me conditions before I was released; that I must not grant any press interview, I must not go to court, and that I should quit politics,” he said.
The witness also disclosed that the police officers directly told him, that, “You, these Kwara boys, we will show you shege. We will take Kwara from your leader, Saraki.”
The witness said their arrest was politically motivated due to the failure of Alhaji Lai Muhammed’s camp at the APC Ward Congress against the Saraki’s structure. To deal with the Saraki camp, they needed to tag it with something to nail them, hence, Offa Robbery became their option which was a month after the the robbery saga.
The prosecuting counsel was unable to conclude his cross examination of the witness due to the fact that a particular document was not brought before the court. Hence, they sought for an adjournment to obtain the said document and the case was subsequently adjourned to January 16,17 and 18, 2023 for continuation of cross examination by the prosecution team.