By Sunmola Olowookere

|

A hush fell on Akure High Court yesterday following revelations that the former PRO of Miyetti Allah Association, an advocacy group for cattle rearers in Ondo State, Adamu Adamu was the kingpin of the robbery syndicate that killed Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti

The disclosure came to the fore when the prosecution led by the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye closed its case in the murder case.

The Miyyetti Allah’s ex- PRO is the third defendant, a suspect in the case and a popular interpreter in cases involving Hausas.

The prosecution led by the Attorney-General called two Police witnesses and a legal practitioner of the Legal Aid.

One of the  witnesses, a Supretendent of Police J. Ibrahim now the Commandant of Puff Adder, Lagos and Ogun but as at the time of investigation was attached to Force CID, Lagos told the court that the first defendant told the police that the ex-PRO of Miyyetti Allah was the “chairman” of the robbery syndicate.

He stated that it all started on March 2, 2020, when his command received an intelligence that one Tambaya and his cohorts were planning to rob a sawmill in Ijebu Ode.

He told the court that the Tambaya syndicate has its tentacles all over the southwest. He said the information was duly delivered to all commanders in the states.

Ibrahim stated that the Ondo police command arrested one Awal, the first defendant and he took over the suspect from Ondo State and instructed Inspector Akeem Ogunjobi to record his statement.

He testified that Awal took them to Ojodu in Lagos where the proceeds of their robbery were kept.

According to him, the accused person also confessed to other cases on conspiracy and armed robbery during which cable wires were recovered and further arrests made. He said the defendant made statement back at the station before the police moved to Ijebu Ode, the crime scene.

He stated that he got information later that one of the gang members had been arrested by Edo SARS and took over the suspect for harmonization.

He explained that the Edo state SARs arrested two of the defendants; Mohammed Shehu Usman and Awal Masaze Lawal .

He told the court that Tambaya had been on the police watch list in the southwest states.

Upon the police interaction with the two defendants on several kidnappings, he stated that Mohammed Sheu Usman gave them graphic details of his movement with the Tambaya syndicate on kidnapping and armed robbery.

He said Mohammed Sheu Usman, the first defendant took the police to Ore the crime scene and inside the forest  at Temidire village where they kidnapped two persons during the attack, one Gerrard, a German and one Femi Ajayi, late Olakunrin’s driver.

The police witness said that the defendant showed them a place where they killed a hunter, Matthew Ogunbiyi and collected his gun and later met the hunter’s family member who volunteered statement and also testified in court.

Through further information volunteered, the police said the defendant took them to Miyyetti Allah office in Shasha where they arrested Bello Garba, the chairman of the group.

He said that he made statement that corroborated with that of the first defendant where he mentioned Adamu Adamu, the ex-PRO of Miyyetti Allah, whom they arrested at Shasha.

During interrogation, he said that it was discovered that Garba Bello had been challenging Adamu Adamu on his involvement with the syndicate.

He testified that the police carried out a police identification parade and invited one of the victims. During which nine suspects were placed on parade while Femi Ajayi, the deceased’s driver that was kidnapped identified three out of nine suspects.

Under cross examination by K.A Gbadamosi, counsel to the first defendant, he said that he only arrested Adamu Adamu personally.

He stressed that he received intelligence about armed robbery on March 2, 2020 but later discovered that they were involved in the attack on Funke Olakunrin which led to her death.

He disclosed that the first and second defendants were arrested at Ubiaja for having in their possession Ak47 rifle.

He hinted that Tambaya was sighted last year and was killed in the process of arrest.

The police investigative officer, Inspector Ogunjobi Akeem formerly attached to defunct SARS and currently with SWAT ,FCID Lagos  testified that on March 1, 2020, they received an intelligence about the Criminal activity of a gang into armed robbery in the south west of which police higher authority had declared them wanted.

He stated that on march 18, 2020, the first and second defendant were arrested by the operatives of SARS Edo command along Ubiaja /Erume expressway during a stop and search and one Ak47 was found inside the first Toyota bus with registration number AKD 958 FQ.

When they searched further, they discovered 30 rounds of live ammunition and they were taken to police headquarters, Benin. They were duly informed that the suspects they were looking for in armed robbery case in Ogun had been arrested in Edo, he said.

The Inspector General of police had subsequently ordered the transfer of the case to their office in Lagos.

During the interview, the first defendant confessed to series of crimes that they undertook. He told them about the incident involving Funke Olakunrin on July, 12, 2019.

He said that the syndicate usually received tip offs on whom to kidnap but on the case of Olakunrin, they just entered the road to kidnap anyone.

He recognized the said 30 rams of ammunition and it was tendered as an exhibit by the prosecution along with his statement.

The court admitted it along with the statement of the first, second and third defendant as exhibits.

The prosecution also called a witness, Mrs. Seun Asake who told the court that she stood in as legal representation for the defendants.

She stated that she knows the defendants and was very familiar with the third defendant because he had been interpreter for her in some Fulani cases.

There was a mild drama when the third defendant, Adamu Adamu who was a former PRO of  Miyyetti Allah and interpreter in several cases involving Fulanis before the High Court denied knowing the lawyer and was never an interpreter despite the judge’s prodding.

After this, the prosecution closed its case and the trial judge, Justice Williams Olamide adjourned the case till February 22 and 23, 2022 for the defence to open its case.