The Kwara State Government has instituted a 20-count
charge against former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former governor
Abdulfatah Ahmed in connection with the 2018 Offa robbery incident.
The case, filed at the Kwara State High Court in
Ilorin on April 9, 2026, also names Yusuf Abdulwahab and Alabi Olalekan as
co-defendants.
According to the charge sheet, the accused are alleged
to have conspired with individuals previously convicted for the Offa bank
robberies to carry out coordinated attacks on several financial institutions.
The affected banks reportedly include branches of Guarantee Trust Bank, First
Bank, Ecobank, Union Bank, and Zenith Bank. The charges are based on provisions
of the Robbery and Firearms Act.
The case originates from the April 5, 2018 attacks in
Offa, during which multiple banks and a police station were targeted, leaving
33 people dead, including both civilians and police personnel.
In September 2024, a Kwara High Court convicted five
individuals, including alleged gang leader Ayoade Akinnibosun, on charges of
armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and culpable homicide. Those
convictions were later upheld by the Court of Appeal in January.
Investigations at the time reportedly linked the
criminal group to political figures, with claims that the gang had connections
to Saraki through intermediaries. However, Akinnibosun later stated publicly
that Saraki was unaware of the robbery operations and alleged that he had been
pressured by police to implicate the former Senate President.
Saraki has consistently denied any involvement in the
incident or association with the convicted individuals.
The ongoing trial is expected to further explore the
alleged connections between the defendants and the perpetrators, as proceedings
continue before the Kwara State High Court.
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