Biodun Esan, Ilorin
An Ilorin High Court has convicted and sentenced five individuals to death by hanging for their involvement in the deadly Offa robbery that claimed the lives of several citizens, including nine police officers.
Justice Haleemah Salman, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, found the convicts, Ayo Akinibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran, guilty.
They were arrested in connection with the bloody bank robbery incident on April 5, 2018, in Offa, Kwara.
The sixth suspect, policeman Michael Adikwu, died in custody during the trial.
The convicts have been standing trial since 2018 on counts of culpable homicide, armed robbery, and other related offences.
Justice Salman, in the judgment, declared that the five convicts should be hanged by the neck until they breathe no more.
Also, the court sentenced the five individuals to three years in prison for illegal possession of firearms under the penal code law.
Justice Salman noted that the convicts allowed their connections with influential figures in the previous government to lead them astray.
Prosecution counsel Barrister Rotimi Jacobs expressed satisfaction with the verdict, praising the judge for her thoroughness despite various distractions that delayed the case.
One of the prosecuting counsels, Barrister Abdullah Jimba, stated that the judgment was not unexpected and confirmed that they are preparing to file an appeal.
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