A former branch manager of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) turned businessman, Olufemi Olalekan Olushakin, alongside two others has been charged before an Ibadan, Oyo State Chief Magistrate’s Court for alleged conspiracy and armed robbery.
Olushakin, now at large, was last Thursday charged in absentia before the court alongside Ayomide Akanbi and David Adewale on the alleged crimes.
The police in charge numbered MI/1672C, alleged that the ex-banker, Ayomide Akanbi and David Adewale, were alleged to have committed the offences on 13 December 2024 at about 5p.m, at Global Signature Hotel, New Gbagi Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The police alleged that the three defendants, while armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, attacked and robbed one Akinola Dare, and dispossessed him of a cash sum of Two Million, One Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N2,140.000.00) only, property of Global Signature Hotel Limited.
The defendants’ alleged offences, according to the prosecutor, Inspector Kefas Usman, contravened sections 6 (B) and 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap RII Vol. 14 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
The two counts charged against the ex-banker and others read: “That you (1) Ayomide Akanbi ‘M’ (2) David Adewole ‘M’ and one Olusakin Olufemi Olalekan ‘M’, now at large, on 13th December 2024 at about 5:00pm at Global Signature Hotel, New Gbagi Road, Ibadan in the 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 Vol. 14 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
“That you (1) Ayomide Akanbi ‘M’ (2) David Adewole ‘M’ and one Olusakin Olufemi Olalekan ‘M’, now at large, on the same date, time and place in the above magisterial district while armed yourselves with guns and some other dangerous weapons did attack one Akinola Dare ‘M’ and also dispossessed him of a cash sum of Two Million, One Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N2,140,000.00) only, property of Global Signature Hotel Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap R II Vol. 14 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.”
Olushakin – now at large – and the two suspects – Ayomide Akanbi and David Adewale – were alleged to have conspired 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 RII Vol. 14 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
During the defendants’ arraignment on Thursday, the prosecutor, Inspector Usman, told the court that Olushakin, a former branch manager with a second-generation bank and now Chairman of LAC Autos & Spare Linuted, alongside Akanbi, Adewale and others on the night of Friday, 13 December, allegedly forcefully gained entry into Global Signature Hotel in Ibadan by disarming the security men at the gate. He was later to confirm that he bank in question was FCMB.
Usman also told the court that the defendants made forceful and unlawful entry into the hotel, went straight to the control room, destroyed the CCTV memory and cut off the CCTV machine.
“After vandalizing it, they went to the POS machine, took the machines of the company, went to the manager of the hotel, one Dare Akinola, at gunpoint, took him to the cash registry to collect all the sales of the week including room sales, lodgment, bar & hall payment totalling over Two Million, One Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N2,140,000).
“They went to all the rooms, rounded up all the customers, and forcefully asked them to transfer money into Olushakin’s personal account during the robbery.
“At gunpoint, they gathered everybody to the reception, laid them down at gunpoint and in fear of their lives, the customers made cash transfers to Olushakin’s accounts, they vandalized some other properties, took the lodgment book, computers, and other equipment.”
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Giwa Babalola, after listening to the prosecutor, ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Facility in Ibadan, even as she adjourned the case till 29 January 2025 for further mention.
However, with Olushakin’s absence during the arraignment, the Oyo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for him by placing a bounty of N5 million on him for anybody with useful information leading to his arrest.
Eighteen-Eleven Media