Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a major judicial ruling, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Friday upheld the death sentences imposed on five men convicted over the notorious 2018 Offa bank robbery, dismissing all grounds of appeal as without merit and affirming the earlier High Court verdict. The unanimous judgment was delivered virtually via Zoom, reinforcing the sentence of death by hanging previously handed down by the Kwara State High Court.
The convicts — Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham — were found guilty of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and culpable homicide for their roles in the coordinated attack on five banks in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State on April 5, 2018. The violent operation is among the deadliest in Nigeria’s history, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 people, including nine police officers.
The sixth suspect in the case, Michael Adikwu, a retired police officer and alleged leader of the gang, died in custody before the trial could begin. The prolonged prosecution of the remaining suspects, which stretched nearly six years, drew national attention due to the scale of the attack and the loss of life.
Justice Salman of the Kwara State High Court initially sentenced the five to death after the prosecution established their culpability beyond reasonable doubt. In her judgment, she cited overwhelming evidence, including confessional statements and other exhibits linking the accused to the attack. In addition to the death sentences, the convicts were also handed three‑year prison terms for illegal possession of firearms in accordance with Nigerian law.
In Friday’s appellate ruling, the Court of Appeal judges — including Hon. Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi, Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole, and Hon. Justice Abdul Dogo — unanimously rejected the appellants’ arguments, upheld the death sentences, and ordered that they be returned to custody to continue serving their sentences. The judges reinforced that the High Court’s findings on the convicts’ guilt were supported by substantive evidence and legal reasoning.
Although the convicts still retain the right to pursue a final appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, legal observers note that the strength of the evidence and the appellate court’s firm endorsement of the High Court’s decision may make further challenges difficult to sustain. Defence counsel in the matter has indicated preparations to file for leave to appeal to the apex court, but no formal application has yet been made.
The Offa bank robbery, which involved the coordinated assault on multiple financial institutions in a single locality, captured national attention given both the audacity of the attack and the high number of casualties. In addition to bank staff and customers, the fatalities included several security operatives who were attempting to repel the robbers.
The appellate court’s ruling marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s legal and criminal justice framework as authorities continue to confront violent crime, particularly large‑scale armed robberies that inflict major loss of life and erode public safety. Supporters of the appellate decision say it underscores the judiciary’s resolve to hold perpetrators of heinous crimes accountable and send a deterrent message to would‑be offenders. Critics of capital punishment, however, maintain that the death penalty raises broader human rights concerns and advocate for life imprisonment sentences in such cases.
As the legal process moves toward possible final appeals, the Offa bank robbery case remains emblematic of the challenges facing Nigeria’s justice system in balancing accountability, due process, and punishment in the face of devastating criminal acts.
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