The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has upheld the death sentences handed to five men convicted for their roles in the 2018 Offa bank robbery.

In a unanimous judgement delivered on Friday, Justices Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi, Gabriel Kolawole and Abdul Dogo affirmed the earlier ruling of the Kwara State High Court, which sentenced the convicts to death by hanging.

The five men — Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun and Adeola Abraham — were found guilty of armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms in connection with coordinated attacks on five commercial banks in Offa Local Government Area in April 2018.

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In a statement issued on Saturday, the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Akande, said the appellate court found no basis to overturn the lower court’s decision, ruling that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He said the court dismissed all the grounds of appeal and ordered that the convicts be returned to custody.

The trial court, presided over by Justice Haleemah Saleeman, had earlier sentenced the defendants after a six-year trial that attracted nationwide attention. In addition to the death penalty, they were also given three years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms.

Lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), described the judgement as thorough and well-considered, while defence counsel, Abdullah Jimba, said the convicts would approach the Supreme Court for a final appeal.

The convictions stem from the April 2018 attacks on banks in Offa, one of the most serious robbery incidents in the country’s history, which left dozens of people dead, including several police officers.

A sixth suspect, retired police officer Michael Adikwu, died in custody before the trial began.

LUKMAN ABDULMALIK
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