A group of leaders of thought in the Offa local government area of Kwara state, under the aegis of Offa Koya-Offa Kowosi Group, has disagreed with members of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU) over call for further investigation on the court judgement on April 5, 2018 robbery incident in the ancient town.
In a statement by the chairman, Offa Koya-Offa Kowosi, Mr. Kunle Afolayan, on Thursday, the leaders of thought said that the views expressed by the home branch of the ODU, led by Chief Tajudeen Lanre Shittu, does not represent the position of the community.
ALSO READ: Jigawa LG poll: NSCDC mobilises 1,800 personnel for Saturday’s election
The group also said that members of the ODU were allegedly scheming to use the community platform for personal political gains.
Afolayan described the trial and judgement of the State High Court in Ilorin, which sentenced the convicted suspects to death as justice duly served, just as he frowned at any attempt to undermine the efforts made by the police during investigation as well as in getting justice for the victim.
“We categorically state that neither the Offa people nor their leaders were aware of nor endorsed the views raised by the ODU chairman, Chief Tajudeen Lanre Shittu.
“It is a Machiavellian maneuver orchestrated by some powers in the state in a bid to implicate or maliciously smear the reputation of certain key figures.
“In contrast, the Offa community wholeheartedly applauds the Nigerian Police and the Judiciary for their diligence and commitment to justice, which has brought the perpetrators of the heinous Offa robbery incident to book.
“The police did a thorough and transparent investigation which was reviewed by the Office of the DPP while judgment has brought closure to the affected families and restored peace to our community.
“While we are conscious of the rights of the accused person to appeal the judgement, we must say that our people have waited for this long for justice to be done and be manifestly seen to be done.”
and then