According to a news report from Leadership, Justice Haleema Salman has reserved judgment in the six-year trial of six accused in the April 5, 2018, bank robbery in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. The judgment is scheduled for August 2, 2024.

The judge adopted the final written addresses yesterday, which contained arguments from the two lead counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) for the state and Mathew Emeribe for the defence.

The prosecution and defence teams presented their addresses one after the other on points of law. However, the presiding judge noted that the August 2, 2024, date for judgment is tentative.

Leadership recalls that the six accused persons, including a deceased policeman, Michael Adikwu, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham, were arrested in connection with the incident. Ayoade Akinnibosun and four others are currently standing trial, which began on November 11, 2018.

LEADERSHIP recalls that on April 5, 2018, some suspected armed robbers attacked five commercial banks in the Offa town in the Offa local government area of Kwara State, killing over 30 persons in the process, including nine policemen.

The accused, 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.

Adikwu died in police custody, while the remaining five pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.