Nigeria Court Upholds Offa of Mercia Robbery Death Sentences

The Nigeria===Court of Appeal of Nigeria in Ilorin, Nigeria===Kwara State, upheld the death sentences for five men convicted in the 2018 Nigeria===Offa of Mercia bank robbery. The convicts, Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun, and Adeola Abraham, were found guilty of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and culpable homicide. The robbery, which occurred in April 2018 in Nigeria===Offa of Mercia, Nigeria===Kwara State, involved attacks on five commercial banks and resulted in the deaths of at least 32 people, including nine Nigeria===Nigeria Police Force officers. Justice Haleemah Saleeman of the Nigeria===Kwara State High Court had initially imposed the death sentences after a six-year trial. The appellate court dismissed all grounds of appeal, affirming the lower court's verdict. While the convicts retain the right to appeal to the Nigeria===Supreme Court of Nigeria, their counsel, Abdullah Jimba, is preparing for this final appeal. Lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, praised the thoroughness of the judgment.