Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has strongly denied any involvement in the 2018 Offa robbery case, describing the fresh criminal charges filed against him by the Kwara State Government as a political witch-hunt and an attempt to damage his reputation.
Saraki, in a detailed response, said he has nothing to do with the armed robbery incident that occurred in Offa community in 2018, which left 33 people dead, including police officers and civilians.
The robbery attack on April 5, 2018, remains one of the deadliest in Kwara State’s history and has been the subject of multiple investigations, arrests, and court cases over the years.
Following investigations by a police team from the office of the Inspector General of Police, several suspects were arrested and prosecuted. The case later led to convictions at the trial court, which were also upheld on appeal. The matter is now pending before the Supreme Court.
Saraki said that during the early investigations, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation issued legal advice stating that there was no evidence linking him to the crime.
According to him, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the time found no basis for criminal charges against him or former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
He quoted parts of the legal advice which stated that investigators were unable to establish any link between him and the robbery incident or any of the suspects.
Despite earlier legal findings, the Kwara State Government recently filed a 20-count charge against Saraki, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and some former aides, accusing them of allegedly supplying arms to those convicted in the robbery case.
The government has not publicly provided full details of the evidence supporting the new charges, but the move has triggered strong political reactions across the country.
Saraki described the action as a sudden political move aimed at reviving old allegations that had already been dismissed by investigative authorities.
He claimed the decision came shortly after he granted a television interview on Channels Television, where he criticised the state government’s handling of security issues.
In his response, Saraki accused the current administration of using the case as a political tool to embarrass him and his political allies.
He said the revival of the case was part of a wider effort to tarnish his image and distract the public from governance failures in the state.
Saraki argued that the government had even attempted to involve families of victims in fresh civil cases but failed because they refused to participate.
He also alleged that the state government deliberately left out key legal documents, including the earlier DPP reports, in what he described as an attempt to mislead the public and the media.
“This is a deliberate effort to mislead the public and give false impressions,” he said, insisting that the case is an abuse of court process.
Saraki also criticised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, accusing him of focusing on political battles instead of addressing insecurity in the state.
He claimed that Kwara State has been facing worsening security challenges, including killings and kidnappings, and said more than 400 people have reportedly been killed and over 100 abducted between January 2025 and March 2026.
According to him, the governor should be concentrating on tackling insecurity rather than pursuing what he called “frivolous charges” against his predecessors.
Saraki said the administration’s focus on legal battles rather than security issues shows poor leadership and lack of direction.
He described the situation as “dirty politics taken too far,” adding that the state government was dragging governance “into the gutter.”
Saraki insisted that he remains confident the case against him will fail in court.
He said his legal team is fully prepared to challenge the charges and prove his innocence.
According to him, the judiciary will ultimately separate truth from falsehood and ensure justice is served.
“I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any criminal matter,” he said, adding that the accusations were politically motivated.
He also expressed faith in the Nigerian court system, saying he believes the judiciary will handle the matter fairly regardless of political pressure.
The latest development adds to long-standing political tension in Kwara State, where Saraki remains a major political figure despite leaving office years ago.
The state has seen repeated rivalry between political camps, often leading to legal disputes and public exchanges.
The Offa robbery case has remained a sensitive issue in Kwara politics due to the scale of the tragedy and its political connections.
For many residents, the case is about justice for victims who lost their lives in the 2018 attack.
However, the latest charges have raised questions about whether the matter is being revisited for legal or political reasons.
As the case proceeds, attention will focus on how the courts handle the new charges and whether they will stand legal scrutiny.
Saraki has maintained that the case will “collapse like a pack of cards,” while the state government has yet to publicly respond in detail to his latest statements.
For now, the controversy adds another layer to an already complex case that continues to shape political debate in Kwara State and beyond.