The Kwara State High Court sentenced five men to death for their involvement in the deadly Offa bank robbery that took place in April 2018.
The horrific heist, which shocked the nation, resulted in the deaths of over 30 people, including police officers.
Justice Haleemah Salman, who presided over the case, found the five suspects guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide. The judge said the crimes were punishable by death. The convicts—Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran—were sentenced after a trial that lasted six years. One of the suspects, Michael Adikwu, died in custody before the verdict was delivered.
During the judgement, which lasted three and a half hours, Justice Salman stated that the evidence presented by the prosecution clearly proved the defendants’ guilt. In addition to their death sentences, the convicts were sentenced to three years in prison for illegal possession of firearms.
The court proceedings had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other national assignments involving the judge, according to the prosecution counsel. Despite the long process, the prosecution expressed satisfaction with the verdict.
However, the defense counsel announced plans to appeal the ruling, expressing dissatisfaction with the judgement.
The robbery, which took place in the town of Offa in Kwara State, involved attacks on five commercial banks. The robbers killed more than 30 people, including several policemen, and stole an undisclosed amount of money. The violent nature of the robbery captured national attention for months.
In the aftermath of the robbery, the then-governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, placed a N5 million bounty on the suspects. A statement from the Kwara State Government at the time said, “Anybody who can provide information which can lead to the apprehension and arrest and prosecution of these people will be given N5 million.”
