Justice Haleema Salman of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, has sentenced five suspects involved in the infamous Offa bank robbery to death by hanging. The robbery, which occurred on April 5, 2018, in Offa, Kwara State, led to the brutal killing of 32 individuals, including nine policemen.
The court found Ayo Akinibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran guilty of armed robbery and culpable homicide. The convicts were charged with robbing and killing innocent civilians and police officers during the bloody attack. Additionally, they received three years’ imprisonment for the illegal possession of firearms, according to the penal code law.
Originally scheduled for August 2, 2024, the sentencing was delayed due to a nationwide protest, but it was delivered on Thursday. During the trial, it was revealed that six suspects were initially arrested in connection to the robbery, including a policeman, Michael Adikwu, who died in custody. The remaining five pleaded not guilty, but the court found them guilty after thorough proceedings.
Lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, while the defense counsel, A.S. Abdullahi, representing Nathaniel Emeribe, noted that they are preparing to appeal the judgment.
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