The tale of how of a new generation bank at Akowonjo, Lagos, was robbed last year won’t be complete without the mention of Eboma Onyeka, a Police Sergeant who was at the time of the incident attached to the Mobile Police Unit 20, at Ikeja.
Onyeka had allegedly conspired with four others, including an employee of the said bank and robbed the bank he was to secure of about N10m in April 2011. A security guard attached to the bank, Sunday Ogundipe, was strangled in the process.
Two months after, Onyeka was arrested, tried and dismissed from the force before he was arraigned with his accomplices on armed robbery and murder charges in July 2011.
However, Onyeka is once again a guest of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos, months after securing his bail. He is said to have been involved in a series of bank ATM robberies since his bail from Kirikiri Prisons in December 2011.
But Onyeka strenuously denied his involvement in any bank robbery attacks and he was quick to give a recap of his activities since his bail from prison.
“After I got my bail, I left Lagos for my village in Delta State. I stayed there for about two, three months because I was ill and needed to recover. When I was fully recovered, l went to Benin City and met a friend whom I pleaded with for assistance. My friend gave me an Audi car to use as a taxi, so I could earn a living. I also underwent a 10-week course in producing insecticides and fruit juices.
“Upon the completion of my course, I returned to Lagos because I needed to start a business of my own. Since there was no place for me to go, I called a friend of mine who is a serving police inspector and he asked me to see him. My wife had returned to her family with my children after I got into prison, so I had no home in Lagos. All this happened in August 2012. It was the very day that I arrived Lagos that I was arrested by SARS operatives. I still had my toiletries on me,” Onyeka said.
However, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Umar Manko, disclosed that Onyeka was arrested after the spate of bank ATM robberies in Lagos metropolis went up.
He said, “In the months following Onyeka’s bail from prison custody, we started getting reports of bank ATM robberies nearly every weekend. Prior to his arrest last year, there were only two gangs responsible for bank ATM robberies in Lagos: Onyeka’s and another gang. As at the time he went to prison custody, the ATM robberies had reduced to the barest minimum.
“So when reports of ATM robberies began to come in, we decided to check with the prison to confirm if Onyeka was still in their custody but he wasn’t. We began investigations and we were able to obtain his number. Through his phone number, we were able to track his movements until he got to Lagos and thereafter we rearrested him. His gang was responsible for the recent robbery of a new generation bank where a police corporal lost his life.
“At the time of his arrest, Onyeka had in his possession a fake identity card which portrayed him as a serving member of the Mobile Police Force. When SARS operatives stormed the hotel where he was meeting with a friend, Onyeka had flashed his card to the team, not knowing that he was the target of the raid.”
Findings indicated that Onyeka was granted bail at an Igbosere High Court 14 in December 2011 through a motion on bail application notice. His lawyer, who identified himself as T.J. Ajapuno, said, “In law, everyone is considered innocent until proven otherwise. Onyeka’s wife came to see me, requesting my services so that her husband could get bail and due process was followed. If Onyeka went ahead to start robbing again after his bail was granted, that is his own cup of tea. His wife and his pastor had stood for him as sureties.
“We served the police and the State Criminal Investigative Department at Panti got a copy of the bail application. The Directorate for Public Prosecution got a copy too. I wasn’t even aware that the DPP’s advice was out; I don’t have the facts of the case and the DPP doesn’t even have Onyeka’s file. It is not as if the case is over, the substantive matter is before Justice Okunnu at the Ikeja High Court.”
Since his bail, Onyeka had had no further court appearance. “Although I was in touch with my lawyer and one of his subordinates, they told me that they would contact me if anything came up,” he said.
Before his arrest in July 2011, Onyeka had just completed a training course for inspectors and was awaiting promotion to same rank. Published reports said Onyeka was arrested in his private Hummer Jeep on his way to keeping an appointment with other members of his gang around 1.30 am on July 26, 2011.
Onyeka allegedly had in possession, an AK 47 rifle and a big bag containing a face mask and other suspicious items. Before his dismissal last year, the 41-year-old had served the Nigeria Police Force for 19 years.
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Let me first apologize for deviating from the topic in focus. I reside in Sokoto state eventhough I'm not in anyway from any part of the state. The issue I want to raise this morning is on the total blackout in the state for 3days running now. This is following the ultimatum given by authorities of PHCN to the governor of the state, Aliyu Wamako, to apologise over his flogging of one of its manager in the state. The governor refused and this had led the PHCN keeping its promise to put the whole state in darkness. My arguement is this: PHCN has a case with the governor, why not go & disconnect the government house or his private residence instead of putting the masses in darkness? I want the PHCN to understand that the governor has a standby generator both at home & in the office and thus won't be affected in anyway by your total blackout. The masses that pay the bills are the ones suffering. The PHCN should have a rethink and restore light back to the state. If you feel you have a case with the governor, take him to court please & don't suffer the masses unnecessarily. Remember, by the end of the month, we will still have to settle the bills, even for the days of the blackout. Thanks...a concerned citizen.
ReplyDeleteSo he was involved in Armed robbery, but because he was a Policeman, he was dismissed from the Force and eventually granted bail. Whereas innocent people are rotting in our prisons
ReplyDeleteBastard people.they cant even show his face for us to see properly
ReplyDeleteTo anonymous 1. U just derailed the whole discussion and did not contribute. Instead coming to nigerisneye's developing community to complain, y not freaking sue the power company for 5billion?
ReplyDeleteNow back to story. So na true Dem talk ooooooo. POlice na theif ooooo.while he was working on getting promoted to d top, he was stealing n killing. Amazing.
The legal system is rotting and only poor people suffer from law breaking.
ReplyDeleteWell well well,konga konga konga. Just this week I wrote that our police force are glorified armed robbers&now evidence is placed before our very eyes. Truth be told,the level of corruption and crime in the body that's supposed to fight crime in this country is saddening.I pray that almighty God intervenes,cuz its only him that can.Zurielle's opinion
ReplyDeleteIt is not only a pity to hear an armed robber was arrested and later got bail from detention but disappointing.
ReplyDeleteOur judicial system encourages jungle justice going on now against suspected armed robbers. It endangers innocent people life.
The system is shameful. I pray we Almighty God gives us good leadership to protect us oooo.
Nigerian police force stinks.
ReplyDeleteTHIS MAN SHOULD BE HANGED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AND THIS SHOULD BE DONE IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHER POLICEMEN.
ReplyDeletethere is no gainsaying that some of the robbery case across the nation is manned by the so called police and force men
ReplyDeleteimmediate condemnation to death sentence should be given this man, he is not worth living any more, otherwise this is reasons why people are taking law into their hand .... Nigerians should wake up.
ReplyDeleteI can HEAR Aluu people talking again.What is DEATH in this case now? Can't you see that the claims and counter-claims are all disjointed.The police should put the story in a way it will established a clear link with the ATMs stories.Did the police catch Mr Onyeka at scene or did any member caught fingered him as a masterminder. When police wants to get out of though investigation especially when there is pressure from their high commands, they look for easy way out by hanging on innocent people or already perceived criminals. pls.. pls am not holding brief for Mr Onyeka or whatever his name is. All am saying is that this story looks spurious from its premises to its conclusion.
ReplyDeleteWhy the hell is the face of this F'ing criminal censored? He is walking freely amongst us and causing havoc. I hope nemesis catches up with him and his kind as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteYou can imagine how senseless the Nigerian system is.A police officer who has been trained in the Police force & has knowledge of how our security system operates,knows how to handle firearms professionally & has undergone training as regards the tactics of combating crime by the Nigerian police. He is involved in armed robbery while in active service,the Nigerian Police simply dismisses him from the Police force and our Judiciary system grants him bail,and funny enough one of he is surteed by his Pastor to be granted bail. We are fools in this country. I think Nigeria is the mordern day SODOM & GOMORRAH and I believe one day something similar to or worse than what happened to that city will happen to us. I know God is watching....Chris A
ReplyDelete