Fresh details have emerged showing how the Federal Government cleared former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, of any link to the deadly Offa bank robbery that shocked Kwara State in 2018.
The revelation comes amid renewed legal action by the Kwara State Government, which recently filed fresh charges against Saraki and former governor Abdulfattah Ahmed over the same incident.
Available reports from The Tribune indicate that the decision to absolve Saraki was based on careful legal and investigative reviews carried out at the federal level.
At the centre of it was the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. E. U. Mohammed, who examined police findings and issued legal advice on the matter.
The DPP reportedly reviewed a detailed 16-page investigation report compiled by the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police.
The report was prepared under the leadership of a senior police officer and focused on the April 5, 2018 robbery attack in Offa, which left several people dead.
In his first legal advice dated June 22, 2018, the DPP made it clear that there was no direct evidence linking Saraki or the then governor to the crime. He stated that “for the Senate President (Saraki) and the Kwara State governor (Ahmed), his office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects. Hence, it is our advice that further and thorough investigation in this regard be carried out.”
Following additional investigations, a second report was submitted to his office in July 2018. After reviewing it, the DPP issued another legal advice on August 23, 2018. The conclusion remained unchanged.
According to the document, “with regards to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, since there is no departure from the earlier findings in the interim report, this 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.”
Instead of Saraki, the DPP recommended six individuals for prosecution. They were identified as key suspects directly linked to the robbery. One of them later died in police custody, while the others were tried before the High Court in Ilorin.
During the trial, some of the suspects claimed they were pressured to implicate Saraki. They alleged that promises of money and travel opportunities were used to influence their statements. Despite these claims, the court proceeded with the case and eventually convicted the defendants.
The convictions were later upheld by the Court of Appeal. The matter is now awaiting final determination at the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the latest move by the Kwara State Government to reopen the case has triggered political reactions. The elders caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara Central has warned Saraki against taking the matter to the media.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, the group urged the former Senate President to defend himself in court instead of engaging in public campaigns. The caucus stressed that only the judiciary has the authority to determine guilt or innocence.
The group also backed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for pursuing the case. It said the decision reflects a commitment to justice for victims of the Offa robbery and sends a message that no one is above the law.