Kwara State High Court in Ilorin yesterday sentenced to death the ‘bloody’ Offa banks’ armed robbers.
The court ordered that the convicts: Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran be hanged.
The convicts had on April 5, 2018 attacked banks and police stations in the ancient city, killing scores of people, including police officers.
The convicts had since then been standing trial.
The state government prosecuted the case, charging them for illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery and homicide.
Also, the court sentenced each of them to three years in jail for being in possession of illegal firearms.
As the case progressed, the convicts pleaded various alibis contrary to their confessional statements to cover up their involvement in the crime, the court said.
Delivering her about three hours’ verdict, Justice Haleemah Salman said the prosecution proved the offences against the defendants beyond doubt.
The judge said: ”The video clips in the court to show the culpability of the defendants made their alibis worthless, a desperate attempt to cover up and after thought.
“The law is clear that once a person is present at the scene of a crime such a person is culpable. Any person who fires an AK-47 at close range at a person should know that the consequence is death.
“The five defendants are hereby convicted for offences bordering on illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable by death.
“I order that the five of you are to be hanged until you are pronounced dead.
“It is unfortunate that we witnessed the ungodly activities of these five people. They were once connected to the powers-that-be. That connection entered their heads forgetting that Nigeria operates with rule of law.
“Their lives are commensurate with the lives of dozens that were killed during a dastardly and bloody event.”