‘Justice has been served’: Kwara govt reacts to Offa robbery judgment

Kwara State Government, in its reactions to the recent judgment on the ugly incident in Offa, heaves a great sigh of relief at the decision of the State High Court, which convicted the five criminals involved in the April 26, 2018, armed robbery in Offa.

The Informant247 had earlier reported how five suspected robbers banks in Offa were on Thursday sentenced to death by hanging.

It was gathered that Justice Haleemah Salman of the State High Court in Ilorin, in her judgement, said the suspects were found involved in the deadly robbery attack in the ancient town of Offa, which occurred on April 5, 2018, where they unleashed multiple gun attacks in the bank’s area and killed Thirty-Nine persons including pregnant women and police officers.

Meanwhile, the state judgment, while hailing the judgment, recounted how at least 33 innocent citizens, including pregnant women and nine policemen, were killed in the robbery while describing it as a melancholic incident that couldn’t be forgotten in the history of the state.

According to a statement by Hon. Bola Olukoju, Commissioner for Communications, the government expressed its satisfaction at the judgment, saying justice has been served to the victims of that unforgivable crime, their families and loved ones, to the state against which the crime was committed, and to the criminals themselves.

The Commissioner, while also describing the judgment as a triumph of good and rule of law over evil and impunity, commended the firmness and erudition of the court on this important case, adding that history would never forget the forthrightness of the court.

She added, “We also commend the resourcefulness, hard work, commitment, and brilliance of the government team, which the inimitable Rotimi Jacob SAN leads. We also commend every team member from the Kwara State Ministry of Justice. We thank them for giving life to the case after the initial conspiracies to sabotage it.”

“Again, the Government sends its commiserations to the Offa community, families of the victims, and the police authorities on the heart-wrenching event. May God rest the souls of our compatriots who died in the incident.

“This judgment is a clear and bold statement that such horrible behaviour will never be tolerated from anyone or any quarters, no matter who the enablers are, and we welcome this fair outcome wholeheartedly. No life is more important than the other,” she concluded