KWARA State government says it heaved a sigh of relief at the judgment of the state High Court, which convicted the five criminals involved in the 26 April 2018 armed robbery in Offa.
At least 33 innocent citizens, including pregnant women and nine policemen, were killed in the robbery. “It was a melancholic incident that we could never forget in the history of the state”, the state Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju, said in a statement.
He added: “The government is happy that justice has been served to the victims of that unforgivable crime, their families and loved ones, to the state against which the crime was committed, and to the criminals themselves. The judgment is a triumph of good and the rule of law over evil and impunity!
“The government commends the firmness and erudition of the court on this important case. History will not forget the forthrightness of the court.
“We also commend the resourcefulness, hard work, commitment, and brilliance of the government team, which is led by the inimitable Rotimi Jacob (SAN). We also commend every member of the team from the Kwara State Ministry of Justice. We thank them for giving life to the case after the initial conspiracies to sabotage it.
“Again, the government sends its commiserations to the Offa community, families of the victims, and the police authorities on the heart-wrenching event. May God rest the souls of our compatriots who died in the incident.
“This judgment is a clear and bold statement that such horrible behaviour will never be tolerated from anyone or any quarters, no matter who the enablers are, and we welcome this fair outcome wholeheartedly. No life is more important than the other”.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that Justice Haleema Salman of a Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, yesterday sentenced five suspects who had been standing trial on the Offa bank armed robbery case to death by hanging.
The dastardly bank robbery took place on 5 April 2018 in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of the state, where about 32 persons, including nine policemen, were killed.
The court held that the convicts robbed and killed innocent citizens, including nine police officers, in Offa during the bloody robbery attack.
The judgment was meant to be delivered on 2 August 2024 but was put forward due to the nationwide protests.
Six suspects — a policeman, Michael Adikwu (now deceased), Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham — were arrested in connection with the bank robbery on 5 April 2018 in Offa, Kwara State.
It was reported that Adikwu, the leader of the robbery gang, died in police custody while the remaining five pleaded not guilty in court.
The remaining five suspects standing trial were present in court yesterday.
While Rotimi (SAN) was in court, the lead defence counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, was not in court and was represented by A. S. Abdullahi.
Justice Salman, in her judgment, found the suspects — 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 should be hung by the neck until they breathe no more.
The court, in the judgment, handed down three years imprisonment on the convicts for the offence of illegal possession of firearms based on the penal code law.
Justice Salman added that the convicts acted contrary to the law and misbehaved by allowing their connections with power that be in government to lead them astray.
The prosecution counsel, Jacob, expressed satisfaction with the verdict and appreciated the judge for being thorough despite several distractions that made the case to be prolonged.
Also, the counsel representing the convicts said that the judgment is not unexpected, adding that his principal is already combining all necessary documents for an appeal.
Eighteen-Eleven Media