Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has accused the Kwara State Government of abusing its prosecutorial powers following the amendment of criminal charges against him and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over the 2018 Offa bank robbery.
The development comes after the state government reportedly dropped 18 of the original 20 charges filed against the two former governors.
Saraki’s reaction followed an alleged admission by Saheed Popoola, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Kwara South, that he participated in the political campaign linking the former Senate President to the robbery.
Popoola reportedly made the disclosure on Sunday, November 8, during Saraki’s visit to the palace of the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, as part of his political engagements in Kwara South.
According to Popoola, some APC members deliberately revived and politicised the Offa robbery allegations to undermine Saraki’s political influence in Kwara State.
“I was a leading member of the APC then that started the politicisation and revival of the issue of Offa robbery just to get to Saraki. But after we finished and won, it was me that was being persecuted,” Popoola reportedly said.
He further alleged that political actors deployed songs, slogans and campaign messages associating Saraki with the robbery during the Otoge Movement, which contributed to the defeat of Saraki’s political structure in the 2019 general elections.
Popoola reportedly expressed regret over his involvement in the campaign, describing it as politically motivated and driven by misinformation rather than established facts about the robbery.
Saraki Reacts as Government Drops 18 Charges
In a separate development, Saraki, through his media office, reacted to the amended charges in a statement reported by The Punch on Monday, November 9.
According to the statement, the Kwara State Government had withdrawn 18 of the original 20 counts, including allegations bordering on armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms.
Saraki described the development as an indication that the allegations against him and Ahmed lacked credible grounds.
The remaining charges reportedly relate to conspiracy to belong to a gang of thieves, membership of the alleged gang and offences connected to the concealment or disappearance of a vehicle allegedly used for unlawful activities.
Saraki’s media office accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration of using the prosecution to damage the reputations of his predecessors, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The office also alleged that the state government spent nearly ₦100 million on newspaper advertisements earlier in the year to publicise its allegations against the former governors.
It added that Saraki’s lawyers would approach the court to challenge the remaining charges.
Background to the 2018 Offa Bank Robbery
The Offa bank robbery occurred on April 5, 2018, when armed men launched coordinated attacks on commercial banks and security personnel in Offa, Kwara State.
The attackers reportedly targeted branches of First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Ecobank, Zenith Bank and Union Bank, as well as Ibolo Microfinance Bank.
At least 33 people, including 12 police officers and a pregnant woman, were killed during the attacks, making the incident one of the deadliest armed robbery operations in Nigeria.
The incident triggered a major police investigation and the arrest of several suspects.
In May 2018, the police arrested five principal suspects: Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.
During investigations, some of the suspects reportedly implicated Saraki and Ahmed, prompting the police to invite the two former governors for questioning in June 2018.
They were asked to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office in Guzape, Abuja, following allegations reportedly made by members of the robbery gang.
One of the suspects, Akinnibosun, identified as the alleged gang leader, reportedly told investigators that members of the gang were political thugs working for Saraki.
He also alleged that he received money and vehicles through Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former Chief of Staff to Ahmed.
However, Akinnibosun reportedly stated during the parade of suspects that Saraki was unaware of the gang’s involvement in the robbery.
In March 2019, Akinnibosun reportedly told a court that Abba Kyari, the then Deputy Commissioner of Police, pressured him and other suspects to implicate Saraki.
He alleged that they were threatened into making confessional statements.
Saraki has consistently denied any involvement in the robbery, describing the allegations as an attempt to implicate him.
The criminal investigation eventually led to the prosecution of the five principal suspects.
In September 2024, a Kwara State High Court convicted the defendants of offences including armed robbery, culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms, sentencing them to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld their convictions and sentences in January 2026.
