A Non-Governmental Organisation, Network on Political Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), has expressed fear over the whereabouts of key suspects in the Offa robbery, Michael Adikwe, who was named to have allegedly supplied the ammunition used in the Offa robbery operation and one other Kayode Opadokun, the first and only son of former Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Ayo Opadokun.

The NGO in a press conference held at the press centre of the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alausa, Lagos on Wednesday, noted that “the suspects so far paraded in the Offa robbery incident did not include the alleged chief armourer, a dismissed policeman called Adikwu.”

The National Coordinator of the group, Okechukwu Nwanguma, explained that the Gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun a.k.a AY indicted Adikwe when interviewed by newsmen, claiming that the dismissed police officer supplied the weapons used for the operation but was not paraded.

According to Okechukwu who commended the police for the success recorded so far in its investigation and apprehension of suspects, the whereabouts of Ayo Opadokun’s son, Kayode, who was among those arrested, but was not paraded alongside others by the Police should be made known.

“NOPRIN also hinted of emerging fears about the safety of these suspects who were not paraded and called on the police to ensure the safety of Adikwu and Kayode,” he said.

The coalition further appealed to the police to publicly produce the two suspects in order to douse tension that they have been eliminated to cover up and to put fear in the other suspects that they would similarly be eliminated if they don’t cooperate by sticking with the police narrative about the incident.

NOPRIN also expressed concerns over the police’s attitude towards court orders and the rule of law, saying that “the Police should heed the court order that the suspects be arraigned or granted bail, as disobedience to court orders offends the notion of rule of law which the IGP often flaunts.”

Nwanguma therefore, advised the Nigeria Police Force to avoid anything that might cast a slur on the integrity and professionalism of police investigation and the dispensation of justice to the accused persons, victims and society at large.

“NOPRIN condemns, without reservation, the use of thugs whether by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki or by any other politician whatsoever to disrupt elections and gain undue advantage,” Nwanguma said.

According to NOPRIN, the use of political thugs and brigands often turns election- an otherwise civic exercise- into a warfront in Nigeria. Electoral violence subverts democracy and undermines the democratic rights of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders.

Update news