The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin has affirmed the death sentences imposed on five men convicted over the 2018 Offa bank robbery in Kwara State.
The appellate court dismissed all the grounds of appeal filed by the convicts, ruling that their convictions and sentences should remain in force.
A court official present during the proceedings disclosed that the judges found the appeals to be without merit and ordered that the convicts be returned to prison custody. The official noted that the defendants still have the option of approaching the Supreme Court, but their chances may be slim if they rely on the same arguments already rejected by the Appeal Court.
The convicted individuals are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham. A sixth suspect, retired police officer Michael Adikwu, died in custody before the trial commenced. The men were found guilty of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and culpable homicide in connection with the coordinated attacks on five banks in Offa in 2018. The violent operation left at least 32 people dead, including nine police officers.
Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court had earlier sentenced the convicts to death after a lengthy trial that lasted six years. In her judgment, she stated that the defendants disregarded the law and allowed their alleged ties with influential individuals at the time to mislead them. In addition to the death penalty, the court also imposed three-year prison terms for unlawful possession of firearms, in line with Nigeria’s penal laws.
Lead prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), praised the Appeal Court’s ruling, describing it as comprehensive despite the delays that affected the trial. Meanwhile, defence lawyer Abdullah Jimba confirmed that preparations were underway to file a final appeal at the Supreme Court.
The decision is seen as a significant development in Nigeria’s efforts to curb violent crimes, particularly large-scale armed robberies targeting financial institutions.
