A High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced five men to death by hanging over their involvement in the 2018 Offa bank robbery, which resulted in the deaths of 33 people, including nine police officers and civilians.
The court, presided over by Justice Haleema Saliman, convicted Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham. The men were found guilty of charges including conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide, and illegal possession of firearms.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Saliman stated that the prosecution had successfully proven that the defendants were responsible for the violent robbery, which took place in Offa, Kwara State, in April 2018. The attack targeted several banks in the town, leaving a trail of destruction and loss of lives. The crimes, she noted, were punishable by death under Nigerian law.
The lead prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the prosecution's case had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jacobs remarked that the six years spent pursuing justice had been worthwhile, as the evidence clearly implicated the convicts in the robbery and subsequent killings.
“Justice has been served,” Jacobs said. “The thoroughness of the investigation and the evidence presented left no room for doubt about the involvement of these men.”
On the defense side, Nathaniel Emeribe, represented by Abdullahi Jimba, acknowledged that the verdict was not surprising, given the overwhelming evidence. However, Jimba indicated that the defense team would be filing an appeal, citing legal precedents that could support their case.
“In line with the case of AG Oyo State vs. Bello, we plan to appeal the ruling,” Jimba said. “We will be compiling the necessary records and moving to the Court of Appeal.”
The case, which has attracted significant public attention since the 2018 robbery, also saw the death of the prime suspect, a policeman named Michael Adikwu, who died in police custody during the trial. Despite their pleas for mercy, the remaining five ”defendants were convicted and sentenced.
The Offa robbery remains one of Nigeria’s most notorious criminal incidents, and the sentencing marks a significant moment in the quest for justice for the victims.
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