The Kwara State government has officially dismissed 18 of the 20 charges initially filed against former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed related to the 2018 Offa bank robbery. This decision has sparked significant reactions from both politicians and observers of the case.
In a statement from Saraki’s media office, the withdrawal of the armed robbery charges and associated allegations, such as the deaths of police officers and illegal possession of firearms, was characterized as an acknowledgment of the unfounded nature of the claims made against them.
According to the statement, the state government maintained two charges that involve conspiracy to join a gang of thieves and obstructing the investigation by concealing a vehicle purportedly used in the robbery. The media office maintained that these remaining allegations would also fail to hold up in court.
This case first emerged following a violent robbery at several banks in Offa, Kwara State, in April 2018, prompting police investigations that allegedly implicated Saraki. He has consistently denied any involvement, labeling the accusations as politically motivated attempts to tarnish his reputation.
The new charges against Saraki, Ahmed, and two of their former aides were reiterated in April 2026, but with this recent amendment, the perception of the case’s validity has come under scrutiny. The media office accused the Kwara State government of misusing judicial processes to achieve political goals, suggesting that the allegations are linked to the upcoming 2027 elections.
Furthermore, it was noted that the state government has reportedly spent around N100 million on advertisements to publicize the case against Saraki and Ahmed. This expenditure has been criticized as a misallocation of public funds that could have better served local development projects.
As the legal battle continues, Saraki’s legal representatives have expressed their commitment to contest the remaining charges vigorously, asserting that previous attempts to implicate him lacked judicial merit. They remain confident that the remaining allegations will also be dismissed in court.
