Two separate legal opinions issued by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation in 2018 found no evidence linking former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to the deadly Offa robbery attack in Kwara State.
The legal advice, dated June 22 and August 23, 2018, was signed by the then Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed U.E., on behalf of the Attorney-General at the time, Abubakar Malami.
The April 5, 2018, attack saw armed robbers raid multiple banks and a police station in Offa, resulting in the death of 33 persons, including a pregnant woman and 12 police officers.
Following the incident, police arrested several suspects, including the alleged gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun, while another suspect, Michael Adikwu, died in custody.
In the aftermath, the police invited Saraki for questioning, alleging that Akinnibosun had claimed the gang operated as political thugs for him.
The police also alleged that the gang leader said he received vehicles and financial support from Saraki through an aide to former Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed.
However, Akinnibosun reportedly told journalists that while the group had worked for Saraki in the past, the former Senate President was unaware of the robbery operation.
In its first legal advice to the Inspector-General of Police, the OAGF said it could not establish any link between Saraki and the crime.
The office stated it was “unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and suspects.”
It, however, recommended “further and more thorough investigation” to determine whether Saraki or Ahmed had any knowledge of the attack or supplied the weapons used.
No Change In Second Legal Advice
In a follow-up opinion dated August 23, 2018, the OAGF maintained its earlier position.
“The office is still unable to establish any prima facie case against him for any offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable with death,” the advice stated.
The office also said there was no “collaborative evidence linking” another suspect, Yusuf Abdulwahab, to the robbery.
Despite the findings, the case against the arrested suspects progressed.
In September 2024, a Kwara State High Court convicted five defendants, Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran, for armed robbery and culpable homicide.
They were sentenced to death, a judgment later upheld by the Court of Appeal in January.
Fresh Charges Filed Against Saraki, Ahmed
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has recently filed a 20-count charge against Saraki and Ahmed over allegations of arming the convicted robbers.
Other defendants include Abdulwahab and another aide, Alabi Olalekan.
Saraki has denied any involvement, accusing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of attempting to tarnish his image.
The OAGF had earlier recommended that Olalekan be charged separately for illegal possession of firearms.
However, it maintained that there was insufficient evidence to sustain charges against Saraki or Abdulwahab based on the materials available at the time.
The OAGF advised that the case file be transferred to the Kwara State Attorney-General for the prosecution of the suspects directly linked to the robbery.