BREAKING: Six Years After, Court Sentences All Five Offa Bank Robbers To Death By Hanging

On Thursday, a high court in Ilorin, Kwara State, sentenced five men to death by hanging for their involvement in the notorious 2018 Offa bank robbery. The court found Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham guilty of charges including conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide, and illegal possession of firearms.

In delivering the verdict, Justice Haleema Saliman stated that the defendants were responsible for the deaths of multiple individuals, including both police officers and civilians, during the April 2018 robbery in Offa—a crime punishable by death under the law.

Rotimi Jacob (SAN), the lead prosecutor, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that the six years spent on the case were justified, as the evidence presented convincingly linked the accused to the crimes.

Meanwhile, Abdullahi Jimba, who represented the lead defense counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, acknowledged that the verdict was anticipated given the strength of the evidence. He also indicated that there would be an appeal in line with legal precedents.

It’s noteworthy that the primary suspect, a police officer named Michael Adikwu, passed away in custody during the trial. The remaining five defendants, who had pleaded for leniency, were nonetheless convicted and sentenced to death.