The court of appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara state, has upheld the death sentences handed to five men convicted over the deadly 2018 Offa bank robbery.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, the appellate court dismissed all grounds of appeal filed by the convicts, affirming the 2024 judgment of the Kwara state high court.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the three-member panel ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and ordered that the five convicts be returned to prison to continue serving their sentences.
Those affected by the ruling are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.
The Offa attack, which occurred on April 5, 2018, saw multiple commercial banks raided while a police station was also attacked in the Kwara town. The incident led to the deaths of 33 people, including 12 police officers and a pregnant woman, making it one of the deadliest robbery incidents in Nigeria’s recent history.
In September 2024, the Kwara state high court found the five men guilty of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide. The trial judge, Haleema Salman, subsequently sentenced them to death.
During the trial, Akinnibosun, who was identified as the gang’s leader, admitted his involvement and detailed how the robbery was planned and executed with the help of accomplices.
Friday’s ruling effectively brings an end to the legal challenge against the conviction and sentence, reinforcing the lower court’s verdict.
