By Sunmola Olowookere
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Two brothers, Kasali Fajana and Sherrif Fajana have been arraigned before a High Court  in Akure for robbing a micro finance bank situated in Oke-Agbe Akoko, Ondo state.

The two men were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and malicious damage.

Leading the prosecution, Sola Abisagbo called to the witness stand a driver working with the micro finance bank, one Ajayi Dauda.

Dauda in his testimony, told the court that he knew the two defendants to be brothers and that the first defendant worked with the bank while the second visited his brother occasionally.

He stated that on the fateful day, he was directed by the Managing Director of the bank to meet up with the first defendant, Kasali Fajana at a bank in Ikare so that they could collect money to pay the local government staff.

He said as soon as they were through with the transaction, they left for Oke -Agbe in the company’s vehicle.

He stated that on the way back, he noted that the first defendant who usually sit in front with him whenever they went to cash money then  sat at the back seat.

He claimed that Kasali Fajana also received a call when they left in which he told the caller at the other end that ‘we are coming. He said Fajana  claimed that he was speaking with the M.D when he asked him who he was speaking with.

On their way, he testified that he saw some people with their machine parked by  the side of the bush trying to wave him down and that he did not .

Shortly after this, he stated that Kasali requested to ease himself, though he was skeptical for security reasons, but  stopped.

He  said that they started the journey again,  some people came out of the bush to confront them and that he could recognize one of them who had earlier tried  to stop him.

He explained that he could not move faster due to the condition of the road while one of them threatened to blow off his head if he refused to cooperate.

He stated that  during this time that one of them got into the vehicle, overpowered him and pushed him to the ground while breaking the side-screen of the vehicle.

He said that the first defendant told him that N500, 000 was remaining out of the money which he had kept apart and suggested that they hid it from their boss and share it later but that he refused to cooperate with his scheming.

He stated that Kasali later called the office and their boss came and took them to the police station.

He stated that their statements were taken by the police and that though the first defendant had begged him not to, disclose his suggestion to share the remaining money.

He stated that they were detained for four days in Oke- agbe. police station before they were transferred to the State CID in Akure.

He said that the investigation of the police later linked the second defendant, Sherrif Fajana to the crime and the brothers later confessed that they had only implicated him in the crime.

He explained that the family of the defendants brought 800,000 out of the money stolen to the police station.

The witness claimed that the police then demanded for money so they could release him and he refused to call his people to bring money so they charged him to the Magistrate court along with the two defendants.

He stated that they were remanded at Olokuta prison custody for five months until he was  brought  at the Magistrate court.