The principal suspect in the deadly Offa bank robbery, Michael Adikwu, has died in police custody, the Kwara State attorney general and commissioner for justice, Kamaldeen Ajibade, has confirmed.
Mr Ajibade disclosed this to the Justice Halimat Salman of the Ilorin High Court on Wednesday, when five suspects in the robbery of April 5th, 2018 were arraigned before the court.
According to him, the news of the death of the suspects was conveyed to him by the force headquarters of the Nigerian police.
Ajibade also told the court that there would be an amendment to the charges preferred against the accused.
He stated that the amendment was necessary in view of the information about Adikwu’s death, and non-representation of the accused persons by a lawyer.
He also informed the court that the reason behind such amendment was that the principal suspect had made the statement with the police before his reported death.
The commissioner also urged the court to grant an adjournment to enable his office to effect the necessary amendment to the charges.
Justice Salman, in her ruling, agreed with the attorney general that there was the need to effect some changes in the charges preferred against the accused in view of the reported death of the principal suspect and lack of legal representation for the accused persons.
She, therefore, adjourned the case till November 30.
The suspects that were brought to court are Ayoade Akinibosun, Ademola Abraham, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Niyi Ogundiran and Salahu Azeez.
The court, however, did not take their pleas because of new developments.
