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PHOTOS: Why Force HQ invited Saraki over the Offa bank robberies

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The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, has stated why it invited the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over the Offa bank robberies of April 5, 2018, in which 30 people, including nine policemen, died.

According to a press release on its Facebook page and signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, ACP Jimoh Moshood, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, “is being invited to report to the Police to answer allegations indicting him from confessions of five gang leaders arrested for active participation in Offa bank robberies and killings of 33 innocent persons.”

See the full press statement:

UPDATE OF POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO THE OFFA BANKS ROBBERY AND GRUESOME MURDER OF MORE THAN THIRTY THREE (33) INNOCENT PERSONS INCLUDING PREGNANT WOMEN AND NINE (9) POLICE OFFICERS ON 5th APRIL, 2018, IN OFFA, KWARA STATE.

  • Twenty Two (22) Suspects now in Police Custody.
  • Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki is being invited to report to the Police to answer allegations indicting him from confessions of Five (5) Gang leaders arrested for active participation in Offa Bank Robbery and Killings of THIRTY THREE (33) Innocent persons.

SUSPECTS

  1. Ayoade Akinnibosun a.k.a AY ‘M’ 37Yrs – Gang Leader (Coordinated the Killings) From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State.
  2. Ibukunle Ogunleye ‘M’ 36Yrs – Gang Leader, Killed Two (2) Persons. From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State

iii. Adeola Abraham ‘M’ 35Yrs – Gang Leader, Killed Five (5) Persons. From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State.

  1. Salawudeen Azeez ‘M’ 49Yrs – Gang Leader, Killed Two (2) Persons. From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State.
  2. Niyi Ogundiran ‘M’ 37Yrs – Gang Leader, Killed Two (2) Persons (Latest Confession). From Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State.
  3. Michael Adikwu ‘M’ 30Yrs – Sectional Gang Leader, Killed Twenty Two (22) Persons, mostly at the Police Station.

vii. Kabiru Afolabi ‘M’ 26Yrs – Principal Suspect

viii. Omoseni Kassim ‘M’ 28Yrs – Principal Suspect

  1. Kayode Opadokun ‘M’ 35Yrs – Principal Suspect
  2. Kazeem Abdulrasheed ‘M’ 36Yrs – Principal Suspect
  3. Azeez Abdullahi ‘M’ 27Yrs – Principal Suspect

xii. Adewale Popoola ‘M’ 22Yrs – Principal Suspect

xiii. Adetoyese Muftau ‘M’ 23Yrs – Principal Suspect

xiv. Alexander Reuben ‘M’ 39Yrs – Principal Suspect

  1. Richard Buba Terry ‘M’ 23Yrs – Principal Suspect

xvi. Peter Jasper Kuunfa ‘M’ 23Yrs – Principal Suspect

xvii. Ikechukwu Ebuka Nnaji ‘M’ 29Yrs – Principal Suspect

xviii. Moses Godwin ‘M’ 28Yrs – Principal Suspect

xix. Adeola omiyale ‘M’ 38Yrs. From Isanlu Isin Town, Isin LGA, Kwara State.

  1. Femi Idowu ‘M’ 34Yrs

xxi. Alabi Olalekan ‘M’ 49Yrs-PA Political to Executive Governor, Kwara State

xxii. Yusuf Abdulwahab ‘M’ 58Yrs –Chief of Staff to Executive Governor, Kwara State

EXHIBITS

  1. Two (2) AK47 Rifles
  2. Two (2) Barrette Pistols

iii. One (1) Pump Action Rifle

  1. One (1) Revolver Pistol – In Police Custody in Ilorin
  2. Lexus RX300 Jeep with Reg. No. Kwara, KMA 143 RM belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (Gang Leader) – Used for the Bank Robbery
  3. Mercedes Benz – Compressor with Reg. No. Lagos LT496 KJA belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (Gang Leader) – Used for the Bank Robbery

vii. One (1) Toyota Prado Jeep with Reg. No. 19KWGH belonging to the PA Political to the Executive Governor, Kwara State – In Police Custody in Ilorin

viii. One (1) Toyota Camry Saloon Car with Reg. No. LRN 481 FE – In Police Custody in Ilorin

  1. The Cash Sum of Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N600,000.00) – In Police Custody in Ilorin
  2. Four (4) Phones of victims recovered
  3. One (1) Sticker plate number with inscription “SARAKI” “Kwara, State of Harmony”

The investigation into the Offa Bank Robbery and gruesome killings of more than THIRTY THREE (33) Innocent persons in Offa, Kwara State on the 5th April, 2018 directed by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni, has made significant progress, successes and more revelations have been recorded.

The Gang Leaders and some of the principal suspects arrested for their active participation in the robbery and the killing of innocent persons have made confessional statements admitting to the various criminal roles they and their sponsors played in this dastard and heinous crime.

  1. The Five (5) gang leaders namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other Seventeen (17) suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery and the gruesome killing of THIRTY THREE (33) innocent persons which includes (some pregnant women and nine (9) Police personnel) admitted, confessed and volunteered statements that they were political thugs of the Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

 

  1. The arrests of the above mentioned Five (5) Gang Leaders and seventeen (17) others were made possible after the arrest of two principal suspects (Kunle Ogunleye aka Arrow 35yrs and Michael Adikwu an Ex-Convict) whose pictures captured by CCTV in one of the Banks during the Banks robbery were circulated to the media and the public. The two (2) principal suspects confessed to be among the suspects led by the five (5) gang leaders listed in paragraph 2 above to carry out the Offa Banks Robbery, the attack on the Divisional Police Headquarters, Offa and the killings of THIRTY THREE (33) innocent persons on the 5th of April, 2018.

 

  1. During interrogation, the five (5) gang leaders mentioned in paragraph 2 further confessed and volunteered statements that they carried out the Bank Robberies, the attack on the Divisional Police Headquarters in Offa and the killings of THIRTY THREE (33) innocent persons during the robbery of the following six (6) banks (i) First Bank Offa (ii) Guarantee Trust Bank Offa (iii) ECO Bank Offa (iv) Zenith Bank Offa (v) Union Bank Offa (vi) Ibolo Micro Finance Bank Offa and (vii) the Divisional Police Headquarters, Offa on 5th April, 2018.

 

  1. Millions of Naira from the Banks and Twenty One (21) AK47 Rifles belonging to the Nigeria Police Force in the Armoury of the Police Divisional Headquarters, Offa were admitted to have been carted away by the Five (5) gang leaders and the other Seventeen (17) principal suspects during the Banks robbery.

 

  1. The Five (5) gang leaders confessed and volunteered statements to the Police investigators, giving a clear account of how they planned and carried out the Banks robbery operation in Offa, the attack on the Police Division in Offa and how they killed the THIRTY THREE (33) innocent persons during the robbery.

7 The Five (5) gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name Youth Liberation Movement a.k.a “Good Boys” admitted and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

  1. In the course of discreet investigation into the confessions of these five (5) gang leaders and the other seventeen (17) principal suspects, a Lexus jeep GX-300 (Ash Colour) with a sticker plate number with inscription “SARAKI” “Kwara, State of Harmony” used by the gang leader (Ayoade Akinnibosun ‘M’ 37Yrs) during the bank robbery and the killing of the THIRTY THREE (33) innocent persons was taken to Government House, Ilorin on 16th May, 2018 where the sticker plate number with inscription “SARAKI” “Kwara, State of Harmony” was removed before another plate number (Reg. No. Kwara, KMA 143 RM) registered in the name of Ayoade AKinnibosun the Overall Commander of the Offa Bank Robbery was then attached to the vehicle to cover up the identity of the said vehicle. The exhibit vehicle was subsequently recovered from the premises of the Min. of Environmental and Forestry in Ilorin, Kwara State. While the sticker plate number with inscription “SARAKI” “Kwara, State of Harmony” removed from the vehicle was recovered from one Adeola Omiyale who drove the said Lexus Jeep to Government House, Ilorin immediately after the Bank Robbery.

 

  1. The Personal Assistant (Political) to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Alabi Olalekan, who is privy to information that the Police is looking for the lexus Jeep as an exhibit used in the Offa Bank Robbery and the killings of THIRTY THREE (33) innocent persons directed one Adeola Omiyale to relocate the Lexus Jeep to Government House, Ilorin. The PA (Political) is currently in Police custody and has made useful statement assisting the Police in further investigation into the case. A revolver pistol and pump action gun were recovered by the Police Investigation Team from the Personal Assistant (Political) to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Alabi Olalekan’s Farm where he directed his brother to hide them after his arrest by the Police.

 

  1. In order to conceal evidence, the Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Yusuf Abdulwahab who has been arrested and taken into Police custody, arranged the removal of the sticker plate number with inscription “SARAKI” “Kwara, State of Harmony” from the exhibit vehicle and also registered the exhibit Lexus Jeep used in the Offa Bank Robbery and the killings of THIRTY THREE (33) innocent persons in the name of Ayoade AKinnibosun, the overall Gang Commander of the Offa Bank Robbery while the Ayoade AKinnibosun was already in Police custody for more than six (6) days before the registration of the vehicle.

 

  1. Investigation is ongoing and effort is being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large. All suspects involved will be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigation.

 

  1. Meanwhile, the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki is being invited by the Nigeria Police Force to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja to answer to the allegations levelled against him from the confessions of the Five (5) Gang Leaders, namely; Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other Seventeen (17) suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery and the gruesome killing of THIRTY THREE (33) innocent persons which includes (some pregnant women and nine (9) Police personnel).

 

  1. The Nigeria Police Force will continue to ensure that the rule of law prevails in every case under Police investigation and every offender is brought to justice.

ACP JIMOH MOSHOOD

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERS

ABUJA

And photos shared by Nigeria Police Force:

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Penpushing Media congratulates IPI new leadership

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IPI Nigeria
IPI Nigeria

The Management and Editorial Board of Penpushing Media, owner of online newspapers and television have congratulated the newly elected leadership of International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria Chapter led by Musikilu Mojeed of Premium Times to run affairs of the global organisation for next three years.

The media outlet in a congratulatory letter signed by chairman Editorial Board, Olufunke Fadugba said the organization rejoiced with the team on renewal of their tenure, and equally encouraged them not to only sustain the previous visibility and interventions on behalf of the media but to do more

“We rejoice with you on the renewal of your tenure as leaders of International Press Institute Nigeria. This congratulatory message is to encourage you to not only sustain the previous visibility and interventions on behalf of the media but also to do more”, the letter read.

 Fadugba pointed out that the past months have been challenging for journalists, stressing that as the democracy in the country move closer to 2027, it is expected that the great battle for freedom of expression will be more intense.

“The International Press Institute Nigeria and other stakeholders will need to be more creative, determined, and build positive networks to guard the media from existential threats both from within and outside the media ecosystem”, the letter stated.

“However, judging from your previous performances and renewed impetus, we in Penpushing Media have no doubt that you will make a success of this tenure, in the interest of the media, the people and the country”, Fadugba emphasized

“On behalf of the Board, Management, and members of Penpushing, we wish the newly elected Executive Members a successful tenure. Congratulations, as we urge you to continue to carry the members along in order to enjoy their much-needed support”, the letter said

The other elected officials include Ahmed Shekarau of Media Trust as Secretary, Fidelis Mbah of Al Jazeera Television as Deputy President, Rafatu Salami of Voice of Nigeria as Treasurer, Yomi Adeboye of Herald Newspaper as Assistant Secretary and Tobi Soniyi of Arise News as Legal Adviser.

The President of International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed in response to the congratulatory letter expressed appreciation to the management of Penpushing Media, as well as commitment to press freedom and responsible journalism.

“We are deeply grateful for your congratulatory statement on the recent IPI Nigeria election. Your consistent support for IPI means the world to us, and we appreciate your commitment to press freedom and responsible journalism”, Mojeed wrote.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, and members of the Institute, I extend heartfelt thanks for your encouragement. May God continue to bless you abundantly”, he added

“Your support and encouragement inspire us to continue promoting ethical journalism, advancing media pluralism, and defending press freedom. We look forward to collaborating with your administration to expand access to information and reinforce Nigeria’s democratic ethos’, the President stated.

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Pensions and other Military Entitlements: Matawalle Commends President Tinubu for Prompt Payment

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Bello Matawalle and President Tinubu
*Minister Bello Matawalle

The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle MON, has expressed his gratitude to H.E President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his decisive action in ensuring the prompt payment of military salary increase with three months arrears and also today’s release of funds for the payment  of Pension and other owed entitlements of retired military Personnel

Dr. Matawalle confirmed that alerts regarding the three-month salary increase for military personnel have begun to be received.

The Minister commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of both serving and retired military personnel, emphasizing that the payment of pension arrears  owed to retirees will continue to receive critical attention. This initiative reflects the President’s dedication to enhancing the living standards of those who have served the nation.

Furthermore, the Hon minister acknowledged the efforts and support of the Honourable Minister of finance  and Coordinating minister of Economy Mr Wale Edun who was very committed in the actualization of these payments.

Dr. Matawalle urged the Nigerian military to remain steadfast in their duties, reassuring them that President Tinubu is fully committed to boosting their morale and providing the necessary support to combat insecurity in Nigeria. “Despite initial setbacks, be rest assured that Mr. President will do everything within his power to uplift our military forces as they confront the challenges of insecurity,” he affirmed.

Highlighting the significant contributions of the Nigerian military in combating insurgency, terrorism, and other forms of criminality, the Minister reiterated the vital role that these brave men and women play in ensuring the nation’s security.

He assured the officers and personnel of the Nigerian Armed forces of President Tinubu’s unwavering resolve to eradicate insecurity in Nigeria, bolstered by the readiness and resilience of the military.

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We Received N80,000 Minimum Wage  in November – Enugu Labour Leaders

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Enugu Labour Leaders
Enugu Labour Leaders

The Organised Labour in Enugu State has refuted the media reports that the new minimum wage was yet to be paid in the state, saying that the implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage, which is above the N70,000 national minimum wage, commenced in November 2024.

The workers also said that they had no plan to go on strike since.  They said that observed discrepancies in consequential adjustment in the implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage had already been conveyed to Governor Peter Mbah and nursed no doubts that it would be addressed subsequently, as he had already earned workers’ trust by his commitment to their welfare since his assumption of office.

This was made known in a joint statement in the state capital on Tuesday by the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Enugu State Council, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo; Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Ben Asogwa; and the Chairman of the state’s Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, JNC, Comrade Ezekiel Omeh.

The statement read, “The Orgaised Labour in Enugu State wishes to make clarifications in several media reports, which wrongly project Enugu among the states that are yet to pay the national minimum wage.

“We want to acknowledge the fact that the Enugu State Government paid the N80,000 minimum wage approved by the governor in the November 2024 salary.

“However, the minimum wage paid did not reflect the consequential adjustments inherent in minimum wage implementation.

“As labour leaders, we have already communicated to His Excellency the observed discrepancies and in his usual magnanimity to the welfare of workers, we strongly believe that he will address this subsequently.

“Our confidence in the governor remains intact, considering his usual dispositions to the wellbeing of workers.

“It is worthy of note that he continued to pay wage award of N25,000 he approved for workers from December 2023 till October 2024 when the new minimum wage of N80,000 was approved and consequently reflected in the November salary.

“We also recall his good faith in ensuring that local government employees were included from the onset in the new minimum wage of N80,000, having earlier upgraded them to full N30,000 minimum wage upon assumption of office after several years of waiting.

“Likewise, he approved the payment of the N1.9bn four-year accumulated leave allowances owed to teachers of public primary schools in the state and eight-month salary arrears valued at over N467m, which were also owed the academic, non-academic, and casual staff of the Enugu State College of Education Technical, ESCET, Enugu, before his assumption of office.

“Consequently, in the same culture, we trust him to address all the concerns regarding consequential adjustments in the implementation of N80,000 minimum wage.

“So, we have not gone on strike. We do not also contemplate or foresee any strike in the near future because there is no need for that yet.” 

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