The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused former governor Bukola Saraki of maintaining close ties with individuals convicted over the 2018 Offa bank robbery, alleging he acted as a political patron to criminal elements during his time in power.
The Daily Crucible reports that the 2018 Offa robbery pertained to deadly attacks on banks and a police station that left at least 32 people dead, including nine police officers.
After six years of trial, five suspects involved in the Offa bank savage attacks were found guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide by Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court in September 2024 and subsequently convicted them.
The convicted individuals include Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen and Adeola Abraham. The sixth suspect, Michael Adikwu, a retired police officer, died in custody when the trial was yet to commence.
The ex – Senate President Saraki has, however, denied any involvement in the 2018 Offa bank robbery, describing fresh criminal charges filed against him by the Kwara State Government as politically motivated, witch – hunting and an abuse of judicial process.
His rejection or denial of any link with the robbery incident followed media reports that the State Government had filed a 20-count charge against him.
“Let me categorically state that I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter whatsoever,” he declared in a statement on Tuesday.
But speaking at a press briefing on Saturday in Ilorin, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Abdulwaheed Babatunde, claimed that the convicted robbers had longstanding links with Saraki and were allegedly used for political purposes.
According to the APC, this alleged relationship was reflected in testimonies by former Chief of Staff to the governor, Yusuf Abdulwahab, and one of the convicted robbers, Ayo Akinnibosun, who reportedly led a political group said to have received backing from Saraki.
“The attention of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to the melodramatic press statement by the Kwara State PDP and Senator Bukola Saraki, accusing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of a ‘surreptitious plot’ over the charges rightly slammed against him and three others over the tragic 2018 Offa robbery incident,” Babatunde told reporters.
“Neither Saraki nor the PDP needs to lose sleep if their hands are clean. But they must come to terms with the fact that the court deals with evidence and fact, not dramatic statements that seek to erase the facts of history.
“Rather than the shameful resort to personal attacks like a child whose lollipop was taken away, we advise him to go face his trial and let the court establish his guilt or otherwise.
“Senator Saraki’s denial of link with the murderers is laughable and characteristically deceitful, given the large volume of evidence to the contrary. Only cowards make such denial. The testimonies of the Chief of Staff to the Governor Yusuf Abdulwahab and Ayo Akinnibosun do not support Saraki’s claims, but we leave the court to do their work when the case begins in June. Beyond these testimonies, everyone who lived the realities of the time knew his claims to be false.
“We also find it funny that Saraki, who is no more than a lapdog of another politician and is grossly distrusted for his poor record of personal integrity across political spectrum, was saying a performing Governor is not popular. Kwarans can see clearly who truly understands what development and governance are, as compared to the stagnation seen under his watch.
“We particularly commend the state government for the boldness to put Saraki to trial despite his vaingloriness and boastfulness in deceit. The convicts have named his role in how they acquired guns and other logistics. This is a matter of court record.
“So, the trial could not have been more timely at a time Nigerians want sponsors and godfathers of criminals, terrorists, and bandits to be unveiled and shamed. Indeed, the pattern of bandit attacks on innocent people and how PDP foot soldiers are often the first to break reports of ongoing attacks gave people reasons to sniff foul play.
“It is a sacred and lawful duty of the state government to try him in the law court; it is then the prerogative of the court to either convict or discharge him. But let no one try to raise unfounded sentiments in favour of a man notorious for his sponsorship of ‘good boys’ who terrorised this state for many years.
“Governor AbdulRazaq remains focused on governance. While PDP is busy re-litigating 2018 in press statements, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is building and commissioning schools, constructing several roads, paying counterpart funds for rural roads, upgrading healthcare centers, developing the state at a fast pace, and ensuring salaries and pensions are paid as and when due. That is what unsettles the PDP and Saraki: a government working without sharing Kwara’s treasury among political godfathers or arming thugs who then started robbing innocent people.
“Law does not answer to press statements. Now that the state government has rightly said Saraki and others have questions to answer regarding the Offa robbery, the proper place to do explanations (shalaye) is the court, not Facebook or media.
“The PDP should advise Senator Bukola Saraki to clear his name through the judicial process now that he has been formally charged, instead of sponsoring panic statements to intimidate public institutions. No one is above the law, and no amount of media noise will stop the law from taking its course.
“We advise the Kwara PDP and Saraki to find a better campaign strategy than hiding behind a tragedy that cost families their loved ones. Kwarans are wiser now. They will not be dragged back to an era where government was run as a private estate.
“The APC government in Kwara is committed to security, development, and justice for all. Our government will neither be distracted nor intimidated by the rants of Saraki and his boys,” Babatunde said.
