2018 Offa Dacoity: 5 Suspects To Get Executed By Hanging As Kwara Govt Says ‘Good Has Triumphed Over Evil’

Five young men; Ayoade Akinrinbosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham, who were defendants in the Offa bank robbery case that began about six years ago, are now on death row.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, declared them guilty during the court session she presided over on Thursday.

Recall that a fatal bank robbery incident occurred in Offa, Kwara state, on April 5, 2018, which claimed the lives of 30 people including nine policemen.

The convicted persons, who were arrested  by the police in connection with the incident, were arraigned on November 11, 2018.

Ayoade Akinnibosun, and four others had since then faced charges bordering on illegal possession of firearm, murder, among others. 

One of the robbery suspects, Micheal Adikwe , a retired policeman,  had  before then died in police custody while the remaining five suspects had  pleaded not guilty.

 The suspects, who had for about six years now faced trial in respect of the incident in question, are now on condemned row..

Delivering her judgment on Thursday, Justice Salman ruled that the five suspects should get executed by hanging citing their roles in the heinous crime.

That was not all, they also got a 3-year sentence each for illegal possession of firearms, in line with Nigeria’s penal code.

‘The convicted persons acted contrary to the law and allowed their connections with those in power at that material time to lead them astray’ she said.

Prosecution counsel, Barrister Rotimi Jacobs a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,  expressed satisfaction with the verdict, commending the judge for her thoroughness despite the numerous distractions that had  prolonged the trial.

The defence counsel, Barrister Abdullah Jimba, who represented Mr. Mathias Emeribe, said the judgment was expected while noting that his principal is already compiling necessary documents and getting ready for an appeal.

Reacting to the court ruling, Kwara State Government noted in a statement issued in Ilorin by the Commissioner for Communication, Mrs. Bola Olukoju and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com that it was a development that has made the government heave a great sigh of relief,

 The state government also offered its condolences to families of the victims of the bank robbery incident while calling it a melancholic incident that ‘we could never forget in the history of the state’. 

‘The government is happy that justice has been served to the victims of that unforgivable crime, their families and loved ones, to the state against which the crime was committed, and to the criminals themselves. The judgment has made good, and the rule of law triumphed over evil and impunity!

The government commends the firmness and erudition of the court on this important case. History will not forget the forthrightness of the court.

We also commend the resourcefulness, hard work, commitment, and brilliance of the government team, which is led by the inimitable Rotimi Jacob SAN. We also commend every member of the team from the Kwara State Ministry of Justice. We thank them for giving life to the case after the initial conspiracies to sabotage it.

Again, the government sends its commiserations to the Offa community, families of the victims, and the police authorities on the heart-wrenching event. May God rest the souls of our compatriots who died in the incident. 

This judgment is a clear and bold statement that such a horrible behaviour will never be tolerated from anyone or any quarters, no matter who the enablers are, and we welcome this fair outcome wholeheartedly. No life is more important than the other’ the statement added-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank yo