Police and attorney-general's office say Saraki has not been cleared of complicity in Offa robbery

SENATE president Senator Bukola Saraki could still face further action over the April 5 Offa armed robbery after several security agencies revealed that he has not been cleared of his alleged complicity in the gruesome attack that left 33 dead.

In one of the most gruesome armed robberies ever witnessed in Nigeria, a gang of hoodlums ransacked Offa attacking a police station, ransacking its armoury and then attacking several banks. Following the arrest of some of the robbers, they claimed that the senate president hired them as his political thugs, arming them and using them to curtail political opponents in Kwara State.

Already, Senator Saraki had been invited by the police to answer the allegations and he had responded but it appears that the matter is not over yet. Apparently, the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) said there was nowhere Senator Saraki was cleared in the interim report submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Apparently, they stated that instead, the DPP, having analysed the report, suggested areas of further investigation as regard claims by some of those being held over the crime, particularly as it relates to the source of the weapons used and where the operation was plotted. The AGF, the IGP and the NPF noted that pursuant to the advice by the DPP, further investigation has been conducted, following which a more detailed report has since been submitted to the DPP for his further opinion.

They said it was premature for anyone to claim that Senator Saraki had been exonerated as investigation is still ongoing on the case. Furthermore, they denied the claim that the decision to question Senator Saraki over the case was political and intended to blackmail him and dent his reputation.

Views of the AGF, the NPF and the IGP were contained in separate counter affidavits filed in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by some 10 individuals, who claimed to be acting for the senate president. At the moment, the suit is pending before Justice M A Nasir of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi, Abuja.

Applicants Anthony Onukaogu, Lawrence Umudu, Bamidele Ojo, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Ogechi Duruaku, Veronica Onoja, Chidiebere Achebe, Chika Onyiorah, Chigozie Eburuo and Patrick Uzim claimed in the suit, that the decision by the police to question Senator Saraki in relation to the robbery was instigated by his political enemies intended to blackmail him and dent his reputation. Besides filing separate counter-affidavits, the respondents, the AGF, NPF and the IGP, also filed motions and notices of objection, challenging the applicants’ locus standi, the court’s jurisdiction and the propriety of the court’s interim order of injunction made on August 8 by Justice Nasir, restraining the respondents from further inviting Senator Saraki in relation to the robbery.