The court dismissed the appeal of the convicts for lack of merit.

The appellate panel, comprising Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, Justice Gabriel Kolawole and Justice Abdul Dogo, upheld the judgment of Justice Haleemah Saleeman of the Kwara High Court which sentenced the appellants to death by hanging.

The convicts are Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun and Adeola Abraham.

In its ruling, the court rejected all the grounds of appeal filed by the appellants and ordered their immediate return to prison custody.

The convictions arose from the coordinated bank robbery carried out in April 2018 in Offa, headquarters of Offa local government area of Kwara, during which five commercial banks were attacked.

No fewer than 32 persons, including nine police officers, were killed during the attacks.

The convicts were found guilty of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.

A sixth suspect, who was a retired police officer, Michael Adikwu, died in custody before the commencement of the trial.

Justice Saleeman had earlier sentenced the five convicts to death by hanging after a trial that lasted about six years and attracted nationwide attention.

The lead prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), described the appellate court’s decision as thorough and well considered, inspite of the prolonged delays that characterised the trial.

Mr Abdullah Jimba, counsel to one of the convicts, said preparations were underway to pursue a final appeal at the Supreme Court.

Source: NAN

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The post Offa robbery: Appeal Court affirms death sentences on five convicts appeared first on Frontpageng.

The court convicted Ayoade Akinnibosun; Azeez Salahudeen; Niyi Ogundiran; Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham.

Delivering judgment, Justice Haleema Saliman held that the five defendants were found guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of fire arms.

Saliman said that the defendants caused the death of people, including a police officers and civilians during the armed robbery in Offa, on April, 2018, which is punishable by death.

Earlier, the lead prosecuting counsel,  Rotimi Jacob (SAN), said that the prosecution was able to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and the judgement was done accordingly.

Jacob said that the six years spent on the case was worth it, as evidence clearly showed that the convicts were involved in the robbery and killings.

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He said that the trials had been concluded and the prosecutors had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt for the suspects to be convicted.

The lead defence counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, represented by Abdullahi Jimba said that the judgment was not surprising, considering the evidence presented in court, it had been envisaged that it would end that way.

He, however, said that in line with the case of AG Oyo State with Bello, there would definitely be an appeal and record would be compiled and moved to the court of appeal.

The prime suspect, a policeman, Michael Adikwu died in police custody during the trial while the remaining five pleaded for mercy but were convicted.

Source: NAN

The post 2018 Offa bank robbery: Court sentences five to death appeared first on Frontpageng.