Justice Haleema Saliman of the Kwara State High Court has ordered that the remaining five suspects in the Offa robbery trial be hanged to death.
They are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham.
This is coming after a six-year trial which began in 2018.
The principal suspect and a dismissed police officer, Michael Adikwu, reportedly died in police custody.
Reading her judgement which lasted almost three hours, Justice Saliman convicted them on two culpable homicide and armed robbery punishable by death by hanging.
She however sentenced them to three years imprisonment instead of 10 years for possession of firearms based on court discretion.
She said the video clip presented in court by the prosecutor contradicted the argument of the defendants.
“The five of you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. And may the Lord have mercy on your souls,” Justice Saliman ruled
“It is however unfortunate that we are witnessing these five able bodied men who had all the opportunities to better their lots by living decently.
“And some of them were connected to the powers that be, but they allowed that opportunity to enter their heads and became smart by running afoul of the law and think they would get away with it forgetting that Nigeria is (still) a country where the rule of law operates.
“Their lives cannot be more important than the tens of lives lost in the robbery and murder incident. The court has applied man-made law but vengeance is of God,” the judge added.
In his reaction, prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) expressed satisfaction with the judgement and thanked the judge for the industry display despite several delays. She said the defendants still have the right of appeal.
On his part, Adeniyi Zachariyau Jimba, who represented the lead counsel of the defendants, Matthias Emeribe, said they were not surprised about the judgement following the public interest it had attracted.
He said they were already preparing for an appeal.
Over 30 people, including about nine policemen, were killed in the incident that attracted the attention of the international community.
Initially fixed for August 2, the judgement was later postponed following the hardship protest during the period.
Justice Saliman had adopted final written addresses which contained arguments of the two lead counsel in the case.
