Five men charged with the Offa bank robbery, in Kwara State, which occurred in 2018 and led to death of number of innocent people, were on Thursday sentenced to death by hanging by the Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin.
Penpushing reports that Justice Haleema Saliman while delivering judgement held that the five defendants Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham were found guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of fire arms.
The judge pointed out that the defendants caused the death of people, including police officers and civilians during the April 2018 armed robbery in Offa, which is punishable by death, and earlier the lead prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacob said that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Penpushing further reports that Jacob, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) emphasized that the six years spent on the case was worth it, as evidence clearly showed that the convicts were involved in the robbery and killings.
The judge added that the trials had been concluded and the prosecutors had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt for the suspects to be convicted, while the lead defence counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, represented by Abdullahi Jimba, said that the judgment was not surprising.
Penpushing also reports that he stated this was in considering the evidence presented in court, adding that it had been envisaged that it would end that way, but, however, declared that they would appeal the judgment.
Meanwhile, it is recalled that the prime suspect Michael Adikwu who was a police operative, died in police custody during the trial while the remaining five pleaded for mercy but were convicted.
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