SIX years after the deadly bank robbery on April 5, 2018 in Offa, Offa Local Council of the Kwara State, during which no fewer than 32 persons, including nine policemen, lost their lives,
Justice Haleema Salman of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, on Thursday, September 26, sentenced five suspects who had been standing trial for their participation in the incident to death by hanging.
The court held that the convicts- Michael Adikwu (a policeman, now deceased); Ayoade Akinibosun; Azeez Salahudeen; Niyi Ogundiran; Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham- who were arrested in connection with the attack, robbed and killed innocent citizens, including nine policemen, during the robbery.
The judgment, which was initially scheduled to be delivered on August 2, was put forward due to the nationwide protest.
Adikwu, who led the robbery gang, died in Police custody, while the remaining five, who pleaded not guilty and had been standing trial, were present in court during the sentencing.
Rotimi Jacob was the lead prosecuting Counsel, while the lead defence Counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, was not in court, but was represented by A. S. Abdullahi.
Justice Salman, in her judgment, found Akinibosun, Ogunleye, Abraham, Azeez and Ogundiran guilty of the offence of culpable homicide and armed robbery, among others, and ordered that they should be hung by the neck until they breathe no more.
The suspects were also sentenced to three years imprisonment for the offence of illegal possession of firearms based on the penal code law.
Justice Salman said the convicts acted contrary to law and misbehaved by allowing their connections with power-that-be in government to lead them astray.
While Jacob expressed satisfaction with the verdict and appreciated the Judge for being thorough, despite several distractions that made the case to be prolonged, Counsel representing the convicts said the judgment was not unexpected, adding that his principal was already assembling all necessary documents for an appeal.
