- Safiu Kehinde
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has accused Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, of making false allegation linking him with the infamous 2018 Offa robbery attack.
This is coming under the heels of a 20-count criminal charge filed against him and former governor of the state, Abdulfatai Ahmed.
According to reports, the charge, filed under case number KWS/114C/26, also listed Yusuf Abdulwahab, former Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmed, and Alabi Olalekan as co-defendants.
The case is expected to come before Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin for arraignment.
Reacting in a statement issued on his X handle on Friday, Saraki debunked his alleged involment in the incident.
He labelled the allegations as cheap politics aimed at embarassing him with a case of criminal liability.
Saraki reiterated his innocence in the attack which alleged to be orchestrated by some unamed individuals under then administration of late former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“For the benefit of the general public, let me categorically state that I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter, whatsoever.
“The Offa robbery incident was designed under the Buhari administration with the connivance of some individuals from Kwara State as an instrument of blackmail to seize political power from our group in 2019.” He said.
The ex-Senate President further recalled the outcome of the police investigation which vindicated him from the attack.
“The case was investigated by the police team from the office of the Inspector General of Police. However, following the investigation, in two separate legal advices dated June 22nd, 2018, and August 23rd, 2018, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) stated that there was no evidence directly or indirectly linking me to the robbery incident.
“The DPP in his first legal advice stated that “For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects”.
“In a second report, the DPP stated that “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”.
“Based on the DPP’s advice, four suspects were charged in court by the Kwara State Government.
“They were convicted at the trial court and the conviction was upheld by the appellate court. The matter is now before the Supreme Court.” He said.
Saraki claimed the Kwara government’s suit aga8nst him stemmed out of his recent interview on Channels TV where he called out Abdulrazaq over the level of insecurity in the state.
He alleged that the governor had intended to publicise the lawsuit in a bid to mislesd the media.
Saraki however vowed to take legal action against the governor over alleges defamation and abuse of the judiciary.
“I noticed that in his propaganda plan to circulate his frivolous charges and other skewed documents as paid advertisements in the national newspapers, even before serving the defendants, he intentionally hid the DPP reports and other documents which put a lie to the charade he is perpetuating.
“These are deliberate efforts to mislead the media and induce them to give purchased publicity to the frame-up.
“Therefore, I am under no illusion that this case was a frivolous move and an abuse of court process to embarrass my person.
“My legal team will definitely meet this governor in court. I believe that Abdulrahman just feels that he could still use this case to harass and defame my person by abusing the judicial process.” The ex-lawmaker wrote.
Saraki further accused Abdulrazaq of trying to induce the families of the Owo attack victims to initiate civil litigations against the other respondents and him.
He slammed the Kwara governor over his inclusion of his predecessors in the suit, labelling it a mockery of the institution while warning him against proceeding with the suit.
“I need to remind him that this vicious attack on my reputation because he enjoys the immunity of a governor is a huge joke on him.
“A sitting governor who is accusing his two immediate predecessors of armed robbery is only making a mockery of the institution.
“He is only taking the governorship of our dear state to the gutter. This is an example of dirty politics taken too far and too low.
“He ought to know that nobody at the national or state level is buying his claim. He is the butt of a crude joke.
“Many of those involved in the plot to blackmail me with the Offa robbery case have since faced the judgments of the law of karma. I do not doubt that this governor will end up the same way.” Saraki said.
The former Senate President reiterated his claim on insecurity in Kwara, alleging that over 400 lives have been lost to banditry between January 2025 and March 2026, with over 100 others kidnapped.
Saraki labelled the development as the worst cases of insecurity since the state’s creation.