The former Senate President Bukola Saraki has denied any involvement in the 2018 Offa bank robbery, which remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest bank heists, where at least 32 people, including police officers, were killed when armed men attacked several banks in the town.
Penpushing reports that Saraki in a statement described fresh criminal charges filed against him by the Kwara State Government as politically motivated and an abuse of judicial process, adding that he had no direct or indirect link to the robbery, insisting that previous investigations by federal authorities found no evidence against him.
The former Senate President added that previous investigations by Nigerian government found no evidence against him, stressing that he has nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter whatsoever
Penpushing further reports that Saraki’s reaction followed reports that the Kwara State Government filed a 20-count charge against him, former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, and two others over the April 2018 incident, which left dozens dead.
The Kwara State Government, in the charge filed under case number KWS/114C/26, accused Saraki and Ahmed of allegedly arming suspects linked to the robbery, while those also listed in the charge include Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former Chief of Staff to Ahmed, and another aide, Alabi Olalekan.
Penpushing also reports that the defendants are expected to be arraigned before Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on June 4, 2026, while the charges follow the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of earlier convictions connected to the robbery, including Ayo Akinnibosun, who allegedly confessed during trial to being a hitman within a political network.
The Kwara state government, argued that weapons and other exhibits linked to the crime were recovered from the Government House and a state ministry in 2018 and later tendered in court as evidence during the trial of the principal suspects.
Penpushing reports that the prosecutors had rely on confessional statements attributed to Akinnibosun, who allegedly claimed he led a group of armed operatives connected to political figures and received financial and logistical support.
The suspect equally alleged that firearms and a vehicle bearing Saraki’s number plate were provided through a government official ahead of political activities, however, Saraki has consistently denied the allegations, describing them as an attempt to tarnish his reputation.
Penpushing further reports that Saraki in his response said the case had already been investigated by the police under the Inspector-General of Police, with legal advice from the Federal Ministry of Justice clearing him of any wrongdoing.
The former Senate President referenced two separate legal opinions issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation in 2018.
“For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence… a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects,” he quoted from one of the reports.
Penpushing also reports that he added that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) maintained the same position in a subsequent review, stating that no prima facie case was established against him for charges including armed robbery and culpable homicide.
The former President of Senate stated that, the advice led to the prosecution of other suspects, who were later convicted, while it is recalled that in January 2026, the Court of Appeal in Ilorin upheld the death sentences handed to five convicted offenders, affirming the earlier judgement of the Kwara State High Court.
Penpushing reports that the convicts, including Ayo Akinnibosun, were found guilty of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and culpable homicide, however, the case is currently before the Supreme Court.
The chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that the renewed charges were a response to his recent criticism of the state government’s handling of insecurity.
Penpushing further reports that Saraki said the governor suddenly, woke up after he (Saraki) granted an interview… and thought he could resurrect these baseless charges, while he accused the administration of attempting to mislead the public by circulating selective documents while omitting earlier legal findings that cleared him.
The former Senate President said the case was originally designed… as an instrument of blackmail to seize political power ahead of the 2019 elections., claiming that efforts had been made in the past to persuade victims’ families to initiate civil actions against him, but those attempts did not succeed.
Penpushing also reports that Saraki criticised the Kwara State Government’s handling of security, citing rising incidents of banditry and kidnappings, stressing that one would have thought that a governor whose state has lost over 400 lives to banditry… would concentrate efforts on tackling the menace
The Kwara State born politician described the charges as a distraction from governance and accused the administration of prioritising politics over public safety, maintaining that he would contest the charges in court, expressing confidence in the judiciary.
“One would have thought that a governor whose state has lost over 400 lives to banditry… would concentrate efforts on tackling the menace. I have full confidence in the ability of the judiciary to give justice… this case against me will collapse like a pack of cards,” he said.
Penpushing reports that as at the time of filing this report the Kwara State Government is yet to respond to Saraki’s latest claims publicly, while the Attorney-General, who filed the charges, has maintained that the case is based on available evidence and due process.
The prosecution is expected to rely on confessional statements and recovered exhibits as the case proceeds, while the defendants maintain their innocence as the trial date approaches, which is expected to draw national attention given the prominence of the defendants and the longstanding controversy surrounding the Offa robbery.
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