April 20, (THEWILL) — Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, his two predecessors, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Dr Bukola Saraki are engaged in a duel no one can predict how it would end with an election year ahead.
According to the governor, his predecessor, Ahmed and former President of the Senate, Saraki has a case to answer in the deadly robbery that took place in Offa in April 5, 2018. Saraki governed Kwara between 2003 and 2011. Ahmed served in the same capacity between 2011 and 2019.
The Kwara State Government then filed a 20-count charge against Saraki and Ahmed over allegations of arming suspects convicted of robbery in Offa. Other defendants in the case are Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former chief of staff to Ahmed and Alabi Olalekan, another aide.
“That you OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI, ABDULFATAH AHMED, YUSUF ABDULWAHAB, ALABI OLALEKAN, AYOADE AKINNIBOSUN (now a convict), IBIKUNLE OGUNLEYE (now a convict), ADEOLA ABRAHAM (now a convict), SALAWU AZEEZ (now a convict) and NIYI OGUNDIRAN (now a convict) on or about the 5th day of April, 2018 at Offa, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to do an illegal act to wit; committed armed robbery at the premises of Guarantee Trust Bank Plc, Offa branch, First Bank of Nigeria Plc Offa branch, Eco Bank Offa branch and Union Bank Plc Offa branch and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act. CAP R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Punishable under Section 1(2) of the same Act,” the charge sheet reads.
“That you OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI, ABDULFATAH AHMED, YUSUF ABDULWAHAB, ALABI OLALEKAN, AYOADE AKINNIBOSUN (now a convict), IBIKUNLE OGUNLEYE (now a convict), ADEOLA ABRAHAM (now a convict), SALAWU AZEEZ (now a convict) and NIYI OGUNDIRAN (now a convict) on or about the 5th day of April, 2018 at Offa, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while armed with guns and explosives robbed the staff and premises of Zenith Bank Plc Offa branch and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act. CAP R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
Alarmed at the turn of events, Saraki, denied any involvement in the 2018 Offa robbery incident, describing moves to link him to the crime as politically motivated and unfounded. He said the move by the state government to revive the allegations against him is part of the long- term chain of abuse of process orchestration by his rivals and enemies to attack his political profile and diminish his nationwide influence.
“I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter, whatsoever,” Saraki said, adding that the renewed attack is following the same pattern towed by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which orchestrated his involvement 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. Ads by Saraki 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.
He quoted from the DPP and AGF legal advisories at the time, thus, “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 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.
Arguing that a political motive underlines the government’s attempt to resurrect a more or less settled matter, Saraki accused the Kwara State governor of attempting to “resurrect these baseless charges” following his recent comments on insecurity in the state during a recent television interview.
He described the move as “frivolous” and an “abuse of court process,” vowing to institute legal 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 the 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.
THEWILL recalls that the Offa robbery, which happened on April 5, 2018, involved multiple commercial banks and a raid at a police station by armed gangs, leading to the death of 33 victims, including a pregnant woman and 12 police officers. The police immediately commenced investigation. In September 2024, a high court in Kwara found the five defendants guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery and culpable homicide.
The defendants are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran. In January of the following year, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and sentencing of the five convicts.
A few days after the robbery incident, the police invited Saraki on the basis of the allegation by the gang leader, Akinnibosun, that the gang members were political thugs to Saraki. The police also alleged that Akinnibosun claimed that he got vehicles and monetary gifts from Saraki through Abdulwahab.
Speaking during the parade of suspects, Akinnibosun told reporters that his group had been working for Saraki since he was governor of the state. However, he added that Saraki, then the 13th President of the Nigerian Senate, was unaware of their involvement in the armed robbery. Saraki served as President of the Senate between June 2015 and June 2019.
Then in March 2019 during a court hearing Akinnibosun changed his story and alleged that Abba Kyari, then Deputy Commissioner of Police, compelled him to make confessional statements implicating Saraki.
Saraki has since denied any form of connection with the armed robbery suspects. The reopened case is before the courts and the days ahead will prove to be interesting for all the parties involved.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
