Offa Bank Robbery Culprits Sentenced To Death

By Akinwale Kasali

 

Six years of awaiting the long arm of the law, the armed robbers involved in the Offa Bank Robbery has been sentenced to death. An Ilorin  Kwara State High Court Court on Thursday, sentenced them to death by hanging.

The judgement came six years after the blood thirsty robbers unleashed mayhem on over five Banks in Offa, carting away  Hundreds of Millions of Naira.

17 Persons including nine policemen and Eight civilians were killed in the robbery operation.

The Robbers were later apprehended by the Police following CCTV footage.

Six suspects were arrested in connection with the April 5, 2018, robbery. A policeman, Michael Adikwu (now deceased), Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham.

Michael Adikwu, the leader of the gang, died in Police custody, while the remaining five pleaded not guilty in Court. All five suspects standing trial were present in court.

Giving her verdict, Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court found the five guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

She had adopted final written addresses which contained arguments of the two lead counsels in the case, Rotimi Jacob, SAN, for the state and Mathew Emeribe, the defence counsel.

According to the Judge, the offences are punishable by death. She thus sentenced them to death by hanging.