OFFA BANK ROBBERY SUSPECTS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING 26-09-24
By Sadiq Aminu Kwara State High Court presided over by Justice Haleema Salman has sentenced five suspects in the bloody Offa bank robbery case to death by hanging.
The court held that the convicts robbed and killed innocent citizens including nine police officers in Offa during the bloody robbery attack.
The judgement was meant to be delivered on August 2, 2024 but was put forward because of the August nationwide protest.
The six convicts included a policeman, Michael Adikwu (now deceased), Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham were arrested in connection with the bloody bank robbery incident on April 5, 2018 in Offa, Kwara state.
It was reported that Michael Adikwu, the leader of the robbery attack, died in police custody while the remaining five pleaded not guilty in court.
Delivering the Judgement Justice Haleema Salman found the convicts; Ayo Akinibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran guilty of the offence of culpable homicide, armed robbery among others and ordered that they are hung by the neck until they breath no more.
The court also handed down three years imprisonment on the convicts for the offence of illegal possession of firearms based on the penal code law.
Justice Salman noted that the convicts acted contrary to law and misbehaved by allowing their connections with power that be in government to lead them astray.
The prosecution counsel, Barrister Rotimi Jacobs, expressed satisfaction over the verdict, appreciating the judge for being thorough despite several distractions .
However ,the defence counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, represented by A. Abdullahi for the convicts said that the judgement is not unexpected , adding that they are already combining all necessary documents for the appeal.