Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court has found five suspects involved in the notorious Offa robbery case guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide.
The judge stated that these offenses are punishable by death under the law.
The court proceedings, which lasted six years, came to a conclusion as the prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacob (SAN), successfully proved their case beyond reasonable doubt. The evidence presented in court clearly showed that the convicts were involved in the April 2018 armed robbery in Offa, which resulted in the deaths of several police officers and civilians.
During the trial, the prime suspect, Michael Adikwu, a police operative, died in police custody. The remaining five suspects pleaded for mercy, but were ultimately convicted based on the evidence presented.
Justice Salman emphasized that the defendants caused the death of innocent people during the robbery, an offense punishable by death. The lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Jacob, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the six years spent on the case were worth it, given the strong evidence against the suspects.
The lead defense counsel, Nathaniel Emeribe, represented by Abdullahi Jimba, acknowledged that the judgment was not surprising considering the evidence presented in court. However, he indicated that they would file an appeal against the verdict.
The Offa robbery, which took place on April 5, 2018, sent shockwaves through the community as over 30 people lost their lives in the tragic incident. The conviction of the five suspects brings a sense of closure and justice to the families of the victims and the affected community.