The 33 persons including policemen who were killed in the famous April 2018 Offa bank robbery incident have gotten justice after a Kwara State High Court sentenced five suspects to death by hanging.
Presiding judge Justice Haleemah Salman found the five suspects guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide. The convicts are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran. A sixth suspect Michael Adikwu died in custody.
After allowing the suspects to take pleas of mercy Justice Salman stated: “The five of you shall be hanged on your neck until you are dead to serve as a lesson to others.”
Briefing journalists, the prosecution counsel said various reasons ranging from the COVID-19 period and national assignment given to the judge informed the long process and thanked the court for the judgement.
Bashir Mohammed, an activist with the Nigeria Network of Human Rights, criticised the ruling, saying life sentences would have been ideal.
“The judgment is too harsh, and the court should have shown leniency.”
The representative of the defence counsel, however, said the judgement would be appealed soon.
The robbery incident, which was caught on camera shook the nation due to the high number of causalities as the armed men stormed the Offa and invaded a number of banks and away a huge amount of money as they opened fire indiscriminately at bank customers and passersby.
Former Kwara governor Abdulfatah Ahmed placed a N5 million bounty on the suspects.
