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Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court has sentenced five suspects involved in the infamous Offa robbery to death.
The court found them guilty of armed robbery, culpable homicide, and illegal possession of firearms related to the violent heist that occurred in April 2018.
During a lengthy three-and-a-half-hour judgment, Justice Salman stated that the evidence presented by the prosecution was compelling and warranted the maximum penalty for their crimes.
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In addition to the death sentence, the court also imposed a three-year prison term for the firearms possession charge.
The convicted individuals—Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran—faced justice after a lengthy legal process. Notably, one of the original suspects, Michael Adikwu, died while in custody.
Following the verdict, the prosecution acknowledged delays in the trial, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and other national responsibilities assigned to the judge as contributing factors.
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Meanwhile, the defense counsel announced plans to appeal the judgment.
This ruling comes six years after a brazen robbery in Offa, where armed assailants targeted multiple banks, resulting in the deaths of over 30 individuals, including police officers, and the theft of a substantial but undisclosed amount of money.
The audacity of the heist captured national attention and led to widespread media coverage.
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In the aftermath of the robbery, former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed offered a N5 million bounty for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those involved, highlighting the severity of the crime and the state’s commitment to justice.
