Offa robbery suspects appear in court, plead not guilty

The suspected armed robbers allegedly involved in the April 5, deadly bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State, on Friday, pleaded not guilty to criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, illegal firearms and culpable homicide preferred against them at the Kwara High Court, Ilorin.
Those arraigned are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salaudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.
The police charged them with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, illegal firearms, culpable homicide and armed with dangerous explosive which contravened  the provisions of sections 6 (b) 1(2), of the armed robbery and firearms act and 97, 221 of Penal Code Law.
The defendants counsel, Mathias Emeribe, asked for two weeks to meet with the defendants, saying that was “the matter was one of life and death”.
He said he was briefed on November 29 and time did not permit him to speak with his clients.
Earlier, the court had struck out name of the first accused person, Michael Adikwu, said to have died in police custody, from the case after the prosecution, and the state Attorney-General, Kamaldeen Ajibade, filed an application to amend the charge.
The trail judge, Halima Salman, after listening to all arguments, adjourned the matter until January 7 to enable the parties put their houses in order.