Offa Bank Robbery: Saraki Describes Criminal Charge as Politically Motivated from State

Offa Bank Robbery: Saraki Describes Criminal Charge as Politically Motivated from State

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has denied any involvement in the 2018 Offa robbery incident, describing moves to link him to the crime as politically motivated and baseless.

In a statement, Saraki said he was compelled to respond following public reactions to what he described as an attempt by the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to revive allegations against him.

“I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter, whatsoever,” Saraki said.

He alleged that the Offa robbery case was orchestrated during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari as a political tool to weaken his influence ahead of the 2019 elections.

According to him, investigations conducted at the time did not establish any link between him and the crime.

“Ordinarily, my attitude to this insidious move by the incumbent Governor of Kwara State to initiate a case of criminal liability against me in the unfortunate incident of armed robbery which happened in Offa community eight years ago should be to shrug it off and say that we will”, Sarati said.

He cited two separate legal advisories issued in 2018 by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which, he said, cleared him of any wrongdoing.

“For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence… a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects,” he quoted from one of the reports.

He added that a subsequent legal opinion maintained the same position, stating that “this office is still unable to establish any prima facie case against him.”

Saraki noted that based on the DPP’s advice, suspects were prosecuted, convicted at the trial court, and their convictions upheld on appeal, with the matter now pending before the Supreme Court.

He, however, accused the Kwara State governor of attempting to “resurrect these baseless charges” following his recent comments on insecurity in the state during an interview on Channels Television.

Describing the move as “frivolous” and an “abuse of court process,” Saraki said his legal team would challenge the action in court.

“I am under no illusion that this case was a frivolous move and an abuse of court process to embarrass my person,” he said.

He further alleged that efforts had been made to influence victims’ families to pursue civil action against him, but claimed the attempt was unsuccessful.

Saraki also criticised the development as damaging to the state’s political integrity.

“A sitting governor who is accusing his two immediate predecessors of armed robbery is only making a mockery of the institution,” he said.