The Court of Appeal in Ilorin, Kwara State, has upheld the death sentences of five men convicted for their roles in the 2018 Offa bank robbery.
The appellate judges dismissed the convicts’ appeals, confirming the earlier ruling by the Kwara State High Court.
The convicts — Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun, and Adeola Abraham — were found guilty of armed robbery, culpable homicide, and illegal possession of firearms.
Their crimes were linked to coordinated attacks on five commercial banks in Offa Local Government Area in April 2018.
The Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution said the appellate court saw no reason to alter the trial court’s decision.
The court agreed that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and rejected all grounds of appeal presented by the convicts.
They have been returned to prison to serve their sentences.
The six-year trial had attracted nationwide attention due to the scale of the crime.
Justice Haleemah Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court had originally handed down the death sentences, noting that the convicts disregarded the law and used their connections to bypass justice.
In addition to the death penalty, the court also sentenced them to three years in prison for illegal possession of firearms.
While the lead prosecution lawyer described the appeal court’s ruling as careful and thorough, one of the defense lawyers said plans were underway to take the matter to the Supreme Court for a final appeal.
The Offa robbery remains one of the deadliest in Nigeria, with at least 32 people, including nine police officers, killed during the attacks.
A sixth suspect, a retired police officer named Michael Adikwu, died in custody before the trial began.
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