The Kwara State High Court has reserved judgment in the high-profile Offa bank robbery case, which resulted in the deaths of 33 individuals, including nine policemen, and the theft of an undisclosed sum of money from five commercial banks.
After a six-year trial, Justice Haleema Salman reserved judgment until August 2, 2024, pending further review.
According to The PUNCH, the court heard final arguments from both the prosecution and defense teams, with the prosecution led by Rotimi Jacob (SAN) and the defense led by Mathias Emeribe.
Thirty-three people, including nine policemen, were killed in the incident which involved five commercial banks while an undisclosed sum of money was stolen from the banks.
The presiding judge on Monday adopted final written addresses which contained arguments of the two lead counsel in the matter, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) for the state and Mathias Emeribe, the defence counsel.
During the Monday trial, the prosecution and defence teams adopted their written addresses one after the other on point of law which were placed before the court.
However, the presiding judge said that the August 2, 2024 date for judgment is tentative.
It is recalled that six suspects: a policeman, Michael Adikwu (deceased), Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham were arrested in connection with the bloody armed robbery incident.
Ayoade Akinnibosun and four others are currently standing trial in the case which began on November 11, 2018.
The five suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham and two others were charged to court by the Police for criminal conspiracy to rob the banks, murder of nine policemen and other citizens, and illegal possession of firearms.
Michael Adikwu died in police custody while the remaining five pleaded not guilty.
