The Court of Appeal in Ilorin, Kwara State, has upheld the death sentences of five men convicted for their roles in the deadly 2018 Offa bank robbery.
In a unanimous verdict on Friday, a three-judge panel dismissed the appeals filed by Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun, and Adeola Abraham, affirming their death sentences by hanging.
The appellate court, comprising Justices Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi, Gabriel Kolawole, and Abdul Dogo, found no reason to interfere with the judgement of the Kwara State High Court.
According to a statement by the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Akande, “The Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and upheld the convictions. The court dismissed all their grounds of appeal and upheld their convictions. They have been taken back to prison.”
The five were convicted of armed robbery, culpable homicide, and illegal possession of firearms in connection with the April 2018 coordinated attacks on five commercial banks in Offa, which resulted in the deaths of at least 32 people, including nine police officers.
The trial judge, Justice Haleemah Saleeman, had noted in her original judgement that the convicts “acted contrary to the law and allowed their connections with those in power at the time to lead them astray.” In addition to the death penalty, they were also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms.
Lead prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) described the appellate court’s judgement as “thorough and well-considered.”
Defence counsel Abdullah Jimba indicated that preparations are underway to file a final appeal at the Supreme Court.
A sixth suspect, retired police officer Michael Adikwu, died in custody before the trial began. The Offa robbery remains one of the deadliest bank robberies in Nigeria’s history.
