AGF Malami Vindicates Saraki, Says No Link With Offa Robbers

The Federal Ministry of Justice says it could not establish a nexus between Senate President Bukola Saraki, Kwara governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, and the Offa robbery suspects.

In a letter signed by Mohammed U.E, Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the ministry further advised the police to carry out a further investigation on the matter.

Recall that the police had alleged that the suspects had “direct involvement and active participation” with Saraki and governor Ahmed, following the robbery attack which took place on April 5 in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The suspected robbers were said to have robbed at least five banks during the operation. They were equally said to have killed at least 33 people, including 9 police officers.

According to the police, five gang leaders confessed that Saraki provided them with some of the exhibits used during the operation.

The Senate President and governor Ahmed have denied all of the allegations brought against them.

The ministry statement reads: “For the senate president and the Kwara state governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects. Hence, it it in our advice that further and thorough investigation in this regard be carried out,” Mohammed said.

“Areas to be covered include but not limited to the following;

“i. Establish whether the planning and the execution of the robbery attack of the 5th April 2018 at Offa was carried out at their instance, knowledge or approval.

“ii. Whether the weapons used for the robbery attack aforementioned were supplied by either the senate president, Bukola Saraki or the governor of Kwara state, Abdulfatai Ahmed.

“iii. And any other area or areas that may assist in establishing a prima facie case of aiding and abetting crime, or accessory after the fact.”

On Monday, the police asked Saraki to appear at the office of intelligence response team (IRT) in Abuja over the robbery incident.

In his response, Saraki described the latest summon as political, saying the police have “obviously corrupted and politicised their investigations into the Offa robbery incident”.