The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, today, Friday, upheld the death sentences imposed on five men convicted over the 2018 Offa bank robbery, dismissing their appeals as lacking merit.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state, Mohammed Akande, told journalists who witnessed the proceedings that the three Appeal Court judges unanimously agreed on the judgement and affirmed the verdict of the High Court condemning the five persons to death by hanging.
“The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, comprising Hon. Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi JCA, Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole JCA and Hon. Justice Abdul Dogo, today, Friday, affirmed the judgement of Hon. Justice H. A. Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court that sentenced the Appellants, Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun and Adeola Adeola Abraham, to death by hanging for their involvement in the Offa Bank Robbery.”
It is recalled that Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham were convicted of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.
A sixth suspect, Michael Adikwu, a retired police officer, died in custody before the commencement of the trial.
It is also recalled that the convictions stem from the April 2018 coordinated bank robbery in the Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, during which five commercial banks were attacked.
At least 32 people were killed, including nine police officers, two of whom were women, making it one of the deadliest bank robberies in Nigeria’s history.
Justice Haleemah Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court had earlier sentenced the five convicts to death by hanging after a trial that lasted about six years and attracted nationwide attention.
In her judgement, which lasted over four hours, Justice Salman held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
She said the convicts “acted contrary to the law and allowed their connections with those in power at the time to lead them astray. ”.
