A high court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday sentenced five men charged with the Offa bank robbery incident to death by hanging.

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 firearms.

Saliman said that the defendants caused the death of people, including 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 year spent on the case was worth it, as evidence clearly showed that the convicts were involved in the robbery and killings.

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 the 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. 

(NAN)