Ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki Denies Involvement in 2018 Offa Bank Robbery, Calls Charges Politically Motivated
Former Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki has vehemently denied any connection to the 2018 Offa bank robbery, dismissing fresh criminal charges filed against him by the Kwara State Government as politically motivated and an abuse of legal processes.
In a detailed statement issued on Tuesday, Saraki rejected allegations linking him to the deadly robbery, which claimed over 30 lives, including police officers. He emphasized that previous investigations by federal authorities, including the police and the Federal Ministry of Justice, had cleared him of any involvement.
“I categorically state that I have nothing to do, directly or indirectly, with any case of armed robbery or criminal activity,” Saraki declared.
The Kwara State Government recently filed a 20-count charge against Saraki, former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, and two aides—Yusuf Abdulwahab and Alabi Olalekan—accusing them of allegedly arming suspects tied to the robbery. The defendants are set to appear before Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court on June 4, 2024.
The charges follow the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of earlier convictions related to the robbery, including Ayo Akinnibosun, who allegedly confessed to being part of a political network involved in the crime. Prosecutors claim that weapons and other evidence were recovered from the Government House and a state ministry in 2018, which were later presented in court.
Saraki, however, maintains his innocence, citing two legal opinions from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, both issued in 2018. These opinions stated that no evidence linked Saraki or Ahmed to the robbery.
“For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence a nexus between the alleged offense and the suspects,” Saraki quoted from the legal report.
The Offa robbery, one of Nigeria’s most devastating bank heists, occurred in April 2018, leaving at least 32 people dead. Five convicted individuals, including Akinnibosun, were sentenced to death for armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and culpable homicide. Their case is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
Saraki has accused the Kwara State Government of orchestrating a “political witch-hunt” in response to his recent criticism of the state’s handling of insecurity. He alleged that the charges were designed to divert attention from governance failures, particularly the rise in banditry and kidnappings in the state.
“One would have thought that a governor whose state has lost over 400 lives to banditry would concentrate efforts on tackling the menace,” Saraki said. “Instead, this administration is prioritizing politics over public safety.”
He expressed confidence in the judiciary, vowing to contest the charges in court. “I have full confidence in the ability of the judiciary to deliver justice. This case against me will collapse like a pack of cards,” he asserted.
The Kwara State Government has yet to publicly respond to Saraki’s claims. The Attorney-General has insisted that the charges were filed based on available evidence and legal due process.
The trial, which is expected to attract national attention due to the prominence of the defendants and the contentious nature of the case, will begin in June. Prosecutors are set to rely on confessional statements and recovered exhibits, while the defendants continue to maintain their innocence.
As the legal battle unfolds, the Offa robbery case remains a flashpoint in Nigeria’s political and judicial landscape, raising questions about the intersection of justice and politics.
— Reported by Nexio News
