Former federal lawmaker and human rights activist, Shehu Sani, has advised the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to discontinue the move to file criminal charges against former Senate President Bukola Saraki and others over the deadly 2018 Offa robbery.
He appealed to the governor late on Friday night via a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) page.
On 5 April 2018, several banks were raided and a police station in Offa, Kwara State, was attacked, leading to 33 deaths, including a pregnant woman and 12 police officers.
In September 2024, a High Court in Kwara convicted five defendants for illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide.
Those found guilty were Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran.
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However, on Thursday, 9 April 2026, the state government initiated a 20-count charge against two former governors of the state, Saraki and Abdulfatah Ahmed, concerning allegations of providing arms to the individuals convicted of the robbery.
Additional defendants include Yusuf Abdulwahab, who served as chief of staff to Ahmed, and Alabi Olalekan, another former aide.
Saraki has since characterised the government’s actions as a “desperate ploy by a drowning politician” and “dirty politics taken too far and too low.”
Reacting to the saga, Sani reminded Governor AbdulRazaq that such a move could be counter-productive.
He noted that he was once dragged to five different High Courts in Kaduna and slammed with civil and criminal charges after being framed.
Warning that power is transient, Sani urged the governor to exercise it with caution.
Speaking via his verified handle, he said: “I wish to appeal to the Governor of Kwara State, my friend and brother, His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to drop the idea of filing criminal charges against Senator Bukola Saraki and others over the 2018 Offa robbery incident.
“In the past, I had the experience of being framed and dragged to five different High Courts in Kaduna, and slammed with civil and criminal charges, and the Lord saved me. Power should be exercised with caution. Tomorrow is not far from today.”