8-Member Gang Specialist Armed robbers Caught

Sometimes early 2018 many Nigerians were clamouring that the Federal Government of Nigeria should scrap Special Anti-Robbery Squad popularly known as SARS because of prevalent abuses by some its members but Clement Odigie a retired Assistant Superintendent Police argued against it and stated some of the significance of SARS in the society especially when it comes to Armed-robbery scenario.

The Nigerian Acting President, Professor Yemi Oshinbajo has ordered the Inspector General of Police to overhaul the SARS with a view of minimizing its abuses by few members and strengthening of its intelligence gathering capacity and crime prevention. Thus a committee has been set up to accomplish this great task.

But on the other hand, especially in the case below, it was the same SARS that wrestled against a deadly gang of armed robbers with 8 members that have been terrorizing both Oyo and Osun States of Nigeria for over some time, caught and charged them to court.

They were docked before the Magistrate Court seated at Iwo Road in Ibadan on 10 – count charge bordering on armed robbery, felony, unlawful killing, death of one Ambali Ajisafe, and dispossession of persons of their property by force.

The alleged criminals are (1.) 25-year old Akinleye Usman – male (2.) Abiodun Fadipe, 29years, male (3.) Abimbola Musa, a.k.a. D-Don, 21years, male (4.) Adewale Fakunmoju, 21 years, male (5.) Kareem Ibrahim 22years, male (6.) 21 years old Taofeek Abayomi, male (7) 40 years old Lateef Sulaiman male (8.) Muhammed Bello, male and others now at large.

To show the extent of their terrorizing activities the police alleged some of their activities and charged them to court as follow; The 1st charge was that on 9th April, 2018 at about 1:00 am at Egbeda area Ibadan Oyo State Nigeria in Ibadan Magisterial District did conspire together to commit felony to wit armed robbery and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 6(B) of the robbery and firearms (special provision) Act Cap R II volume 14 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

The second charge stated that all the defendants and others now at large at the same time, date and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District did armed themselves with guns, cutlass and other dangerous weapons and unlawfully kill / cause the death of one Ambali Ajisafe while working as a local security guard within the Egbeda community of Ibadan by firing gunshots at the deceased chest during the attempted armed robbery operation which they carried out in the area and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 316 (3) and punishable under section 319(1) of the criminal code cap 38 Volume II laws of Oyo State Nigeria 2000.

The third charge was that the all the defendants and Mohammed Bello on the 15th day of May, 2018 at about 3:00am at Baba Modupe Avenue, Airport road Ibadan while armed with guns, cutlass and other dangerous weapons did conspired together to commit felony; to wit armed robbery and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 6(B) of robbery and firearms (special provision) Act Cap R II volume 14 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

Fourth count stated that all the defendants at the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District did armed themselves with guns, cutlass and other dangerous weapons and attacked one Kareem Musa and dispossessed him of Two Itel Cell Phones valued at N10,000 (US$27.77) and one Torch Itel Cell phone valued at N1,000 (US$2.77) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(2) of the robbery and firearms (Special provision) Act Cap R II Volume 14 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

The alleged gang members were also charged for using guns, cutlass and other dangerous weapons to attack one Adebowale Adewale and dispossessed him of Jewelleries valued N80,000 (US$ 222.22); Two Itel Cell phones valued at N20,000 (US$ 55.55) and cash sum of N130,000 (US$361.11) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(2) of the robbery and firearms (special provision) Act Cap R II volume 14 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

All the defendants were also alleged to have attacked one Steve Ogacheko and dispossessed him of one Samsung cell phone valued at N42,000 (US$ 116.66); one Nokia cell phone valued at N15,000 (US$ 41.66); One Dell Laptop valued at N150,000 (US$ 416.66) and cash sum of N20,000 (US$ 416.66) which is contrary to laws of Oyo State.

Count 7 stated that on 24th of May 2018 at about 10:20pm at Paraa Area, Airport road, Ibadan did conspired together to commit felony to wit armed robbery and thereby committed and offence to and punishable under section 6(B) of the robbery and firearms special provision Act Cap R II volume 14 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

The 8th charged was stated that they did one Agbaje Michael and also dispossessed him of one Itel Cell phone valued N22,000 (US$ 61.11); One Techno Cell phone valued at N15,000 (US$ 41.66); One licensed pump action riffle valued N350,000 (US$ 972.22) only and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(2) of the robbery and firearms special provision Act Cap R II volume 14 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
Count 9 revealed that all the defendants while armed with guns, cutlass and other dangerous weapons did attack one Agbaje Michael and dispossessed him of his Toyota Carina – E car valued N950,000.00 (US$ 2,638.88) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(2) of the robbery and firearms special provision Act Cap R II volume 14 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

Count 10 showed that Mohammed Bello allegedly single-handedly on the same date, time and place did receive a set of Gold Jewelry valued N80,000.00 (US$ 222.22) from Abimbola Musa while his syndicate members knowing same to have seen stolen or illegally obtained from its rightful owner Mr. Agbaje Michael and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 5 of the robbery and firearms special provision Act Cap R II 14 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

All the defendants pleaded guilty of the count charges against them and pleaded for mercy. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO) an Inspector Rank Inspector Agbeolo Charles and prosecuting Police Officer ASP Ogunremi narrated in Court that it was one of the defendants that was first arrested at the scene of crime during the attempted armed robbery operation and before the intervention of the SARS, one Mr. Ambali Ajisafe a local security guard within the community has been murdered by gang members firing of gunshots at his chest. But when the SARS came on board, the robbers were trying to flee and one of them was arrested and after a thorough interrogation by Police officers, others members were arrested. The IPO and the Prosecutor further told the court that the gang of these armed robbers had been terrorizing Oyo State and Osun State over the years.

Besides, the police told the court that six exotic cars which were recovered from they were snatched from the marauding gang victims. All these cars were not recovered in the same place but mostly in uncultivated areas where the cars were properly covered and tyres deflated.

His Honour, Magistrate Taiwo Olaniran hinted the court that in major crimes like armed robbery and murder which carry death penalty the case would be transferred to the High Court of Justice after receipt of due legal advice.

The case was adjourned for awaiting of legal advice from the State Ministry of Justice.

By Ademola Oladele

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