Offa Robbery Case: Saraki Accuses AbdulRazaq of Political Persecution

Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has accused Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of attempting to use the 2018 Offa bank robbery case as a political weapon against him.

Saraki, in a statement personally signed on Friday, described the governor as a politician battling declining popularity and alleged that the renewed attention on the case was a deliberate move to silence and discredit him politically.

He firmly denied any involvement in the robbery, stating that he had “nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter whatsoever.”

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also backed Saraki’s position during a press conference, accusing Governor AbdulRazaq of trying to reopen a case that had already gone through full judicial process.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, described the development as disturbing and politically motivated, claiming it was an attempt to blackmail Saraki and divert attention from governance challenges in the state.

According to Adewara, the move coincides with what the PDP described as a growing resurgence of support for the party across Kwara State.

He noted that the 2018 Offa robbery case had already been thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, with legal authorities previously finding no evidence linking Saraki to the crime.

Citing legal advisories from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Adewara said there was no established connection between Saraki and the robbery suspects.

He added that the party would not remain silent over what it described as efforts to poison the political atmosphere in the state.

The PDP also called on security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to closely monitor the situation to prevent political tension.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Kwara State Government has filed a 20-count charge against Saraki, former Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, and others over allegations of arming key suspects convicted in the April 2018 robbery.

The charges reportedly include culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy, and the accused persons are expected to be arraigned before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.

Saraki, however, maintained that the charges are part of a calculated political plot to tarnish his image and weaken his influence in the state’s political landscape.