The Court of Appeal in Ilorin on Friday affirmed the death sentences imposed on five men convicted over the 2018 Offa bank robbery. The court dismissed the convicts’ appeal for lack of merit.
According to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Kwara state, Mohammed Akande, the three Appeal Court judges unanimously agreed on the judgement and affirmed the verdict of the High Court condemning the five persons to death by hanging.
“The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, comprising Hon. Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi JCA, Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole JCA and Hon. Justice Abdul Dogo, today, Friday, affirmed the judgement of Hon. Justice H. A. Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court that sentenced the Appellants, Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun and Adeola Adeola Abraham, to death by hanging for their involvement in the Offa Bank Robbery.”
He added that the appellate court rejected all the grounds of appeal filed by the convicts and ordered their immediate return to prison custody.
“The court dismissed all their grounds of appeal and upheld their convictions. They have been taken back to prison,” he said.
However, the convicts can proceed to the Supreme Court, the official said that the arguments raised at the Court of Appeal were unconvincing and may not succeed if repeated at the apex court.
Following their arrests for the April 2018 coordinated bank robbery in the Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, during which five commercial banks were attacked.
Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham were convicted of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.
A sixth suspect, Michael Adikwu, a retired police officer, died in custody before the commencement of the trial. At least 32 people were killed, including nine police officers, two of whom were women.
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