Three to die for robbing Osun banks, killing policemen

An Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun yesterday sentenced three men to death by hanging for robbing three banks simultaneously and killing policemen and about 30 residents of the state.

The convicts are Nuhu Jimoh, Ndubisi David and Aderibigbe Oluwasenu. The trio were on June 29, 2017, arraigned on a 10-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, murder, illegal possession of firearms and others. The prosecution counsel from the State Ministry of Justice, Biodun Badiora, had called called five witnesses and tendered about 30 exhibits to proof the case.

Badiora had argued that the offences contravened Section 6(b), 1(1) & (2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11 L.F.N, 2004, Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 34 Laws of Osun State, 2002, and Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11 L.F.N, 2004, respectively.

But the defendants pleaded not guilty. The convicts, alongside others were said to have carried out a coordinated bank robberies on 12th February, 2016, at about 3:30 pm. They were said to have wielded sophisticated guns and attacked First Bank, Union Bank and Skye Bank, situated along the same street in Ikirun, Osun State.

It was gathered seven members of the armed gang were killed by the police at the scene while some others escaped with gunshot injuries. About 32 people, including two policemen and two bank officials, were said to have lost their lives during the raids.