Fresh details have emerged indicating that the Federal Government, through its prosecuting authorities, previously cleared former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, of any involvement in the deadly Offa bank robbery incident that occurred in Kwara State in 2018, an attack that left several people dead and shocked the nation.
The development has resurfaced amid renewed legal action by the Kwara State Government, which recently filed fresh charges against Saraki as well as former Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed over their alleged connection to the violent robbery incident. The new charges have reignited public debate and political tension surrounding one of the most controversial criminal cases in the state’s recent history.
According to available reports, including findings attributed to The Tribune, Saraki’s earlier clearance was based on detailed legal and investigative assessments conducted at the federal level by relevant law enforcement and prosecutorial bodies. Central to this review was the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federation, led at the time by Mr. E. U. Mohammed, who examined multiple police investigation files before issuing formal legal advice.
The investigation in question was anchored on a comprehensive 16-page report compiled by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force. The report documented the circumstances surrounding the April 5, 2018 armed robbery attack in Offa, a violent incident that resulted in the loss of multiple lives and extensive property damage.
The first legal advice issued by the DPP on June 22, 2018, reportedly stated that while the investigation revealed details about the crime and its suspects, there was no evidence establishing a direct connection between Saraki, then President of the Senate, or Abdulfattah Ahmed, then Governor of Kwara State, and the criminal act.
The DPP’s conclusion at the time was categorical in its limitation of evidence. It noted that, based on the interim investigation report, there was no identifiable nexus linking the two political figures to the planning or execution of the robbery. Consequently, the office advised that further and more thorough investigation be conducted if any such link was to be established.
Following continued police investigation, a supplementary report was submitted to the DPP’s office in July 2018. After reviewing the updated findings, the DPP issued a second legal advice dated August 23, 2018. The outcome of this second review remained consistent with the earlier position, reaffirming that no prima facie case had been made against Saraki.
The legal advice stated that there was still no sufficient evidence to prosecute the former Senate President for alleged offences including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, or culpable homicide punishable with death. It further reiterated that the findings did not depart from the earlier conclusions contained in the interim report.
Instead of Saraki and the then governor, the DPP recommended prosecution of six individuals who were identified as being directly linked to the planning and execution of the robbery. These suspects were subsequently charged before a High Court in Ilorin.
One of the accused persons reportedly died while in police custody during the course of investigation and prosecution. The remaining defendants faced trial, during which some of them allegedly claimed they were pressured by security operatives to implicate Saraki. According to their testimony, they were offered inducements including financial rewards and promises of travel opportunities in exchange for making statements connecting the former Senate President to the crime.
Despite these allegations, the trial proceeded at the High Court, where the defendants were eventually convicted. The convictions were later upheld by the Court of Appeal, strengthening the legal standing of the prosecution’s case. However, the matter has not yet reached final resolution, as it is still pending before the Supreme Court for ultimate determination.
The resurfacing of Saraki’s alleged involvement has now sparked renewed political reactions across Kwara State. The elders’ caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara Central has issued a warning to the former Senate President, urging him to avoid conducting his defence through media platforms and instead allow the judiciary to adjudicate the matter.
In a statement released by the group’s spokesperson, the caucus stressed that the court remains the only constitutionally recognised authority capable of determining guilt or innocence. The group further advised Saraki to present any defence strictly within legal proceedings rather than engaging in public discourse that could inflame political tensions.
The APC elders also expressed support for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, commending his administration for pursuing what they described as a renewed effort to ensure justice for victims of the Offa robbery attack. According to the group, reopening the case demonstrates a commitment to accountability and reinforces the principle that no individual, regardless of political status or past office held, is above the law.
As legal and political developments continue to unfold, the Offa bank robbery case remains one of the most sensitive and closely watched criminal matters in Kwara State’s recent history. With fresh charges now reintroduced and earlier federal legal conclusions resurfacing, attention has once again shifted to the courts, where the final outcome is expected to shape public perception of justice in the long-running case.
