A High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday sentenced five men to death by hanging for their involvement in the 2018 Offa bank robbery, which claimed the lives of both police officers and civilians.
The convicted individuals, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham, were found guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide, and illegal possession of firearms.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Haleema Saliman stated that the defendants were responsible for the deaths during the robbery, an act punishable by death. The incident, which took place in April 2018 in Offa, saw the violent killing of civilians and law enforcement officers, leading to a protracted six-year legal battle.
Lead prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that the prosecution successfully proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. “The six years spent on the case were worth it, as the evidence clearly showed the involvement of the convicts in the robbery and killings,” Jacob said.
On the defense side, Nathaniel Emeribe, represented by Abdullahi Jimba, acknowledged the judgment was not surprising given the overwhelming evidence. “It had been envisaged that it would end this way,” he noted. However, he added that in line with the precedent set by the Attorney General of Oyo State vs. Bello, the defense would appeal the ruling. “The record will be compiled and moved to the Court of Appeal,” he confirmed.
The trial saw its prime suspect, a policeman named Michael Adikwu, die in police custody during the proceedings. While the remaining five defendants pleaded for mercy, the court found them guilty and handed down the death sentence.
