Court sentences Offa robbery suspects to death 6 years later
Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court has found five suspects involved in the Offa robbery incidents guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide.
According to the judge, these offenses are punishable by death. The incident occurred in April 2018.
Delivering the judgment, which lasted three and a half hours, the judge stated that all evidence submitted by the prosecuting team supported their guilt.
Regarding the possession of firearms, the judgment pronounced a sentence of three years in prison.
The convicts are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran.
Briefing journalists, the prosecution counsel explained that various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic and national assignments given to the judge, contributed to the lengthy process, and they thanked the court for the judgment.
The representative of the defense counsel, however, stated that the judgment would be appealed soon.
Thursday’s judgment came six years after robbers stormed Offa in Kwara State, robbing at least five commercial banks in the community.
Several people, including police officers, were killed in the robbery. An undisclosed amount of money was also stolen from the banks. The heist captured national attention and made headlines for months.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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