The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Friday dismissed the appeals of five men convicted over the 2018 Offa bank robbery, upholding their death sentences.
The appellate court, in a unanimous verdict delivered by Justices Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi, Gabriel Kolawole, and Abdul Dogo, affirmed the judgement of the Kwara State High Court, which sentenced the convicts to death by hanging.
The five men — Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun, and Adeola Abraham — were found guilty of armed robbery, culpable homicide, and illegal possession of firearms in connection with coordinated attacks on five commercial banks in Offa Local Government Area in April 2018.
In a statement on Saturday, the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Akande, said the Court of Appeal found no reason to interfere with the trial court’s judgement.
The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, comprising Hon. Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi JCA, Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole JCA, and Hon. Justice Abdul Dogo JCA, on Friday affirmed the judgement of Hon. Justice H. A. Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court, which sentenced the appellants — Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun, and Adeola Abraham — to death by hanging for their involvement in the Offa bank robbery,” the statement said.
“The appellants failed to establish any miscarriage of justice. The Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and upheld the convictions.
“The court dismissed all their grounds of appeal and upheld their convictions. They have been taken back to prison,” it added.
