Offa robbery: Saraki not yet out of trouble, as Police insists his statements show he has a case to answer

*No link between Saraki, Offa robbery – Justice Ministry

*No, he has case to answer – Police

In response to his letter to Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, a team of police officers, Thursday, stormed the office of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and interrogated him over the robbery incident that took place in Offa, Kwara State, in April.

A media report has it that in a tweet, Olu Onemola, Special Assistant to Saraki on New Media, said the Senate President met with the team of investigators in his office at 1:40pm, Thursday, where the lawmaker reiterated that he had nothing to do with the incident where five banks were raided, leading to the death of 31 persons, including a pregnant woman and 12 police officers.

Onemola tweeted: “Further to the invitation to the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, by the Police on July 23, 2018, and his written response to them on July 24, 2018 on why he could not see them that day, today at about 1:40pm, the Senate President met with a team of investigators on the Offa robbery case in his office.

“Dr. Saraki used the opportunity to reiterate the fact that he has nothing to do with either the robbery incident on April 5, 2018, or any other criminal activity”.

Ministry says no link between Saraki, Offa robbery

Meanwhile, Ministry of Justice has written the IGP, saying it could not establish a link between Saraki and the Offa robbers, even though it urged further investigation of the Senate President and Kwara State governor, Abdufattah Ahmed.

However, the Police have disagreed with the Ministry of Justice, insisting that Saraki has questions to answer in person. Indeed, the public prosecution office under the Ministry of Justice, Thursday, said it cannot establish a link.

Mohammed U.E, Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, wrote the IGP, saying from evidence in the interim report on the matter, his office could not establish a nexus among Saraki, Ahmed, and the suspects.

Mohammed, however, advised the police to carry out a further investigation as it concerns the senator and governor.

Police insist Saraki has case to answer

Responding to the legal advice, the Police authorities said Saraki had questions to answer, noting that earlier statements submitted by the Senate President to the IRT were not explicit and detailed, and needed clarification and further interrogation of the senator as a person.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, said: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to publication by an online medium noting that ‘there was no evidence that linked Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and Kwara State Governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed, to the armed robbery attack that left 31 persons dead in Offa, Kwara State.’

“It is incumbent on the Force to educate the writer of the story that the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, of the Federation in the legal advice did not restrain or restrict the Force from investigating further, the indictments against the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed, by the principal suspects arrested in connection with the Offa bank robbery of  April 5, 2018.

“The DPP advice did not exonerate the Senate President, it only called for further investigations into the matter. It is in the course of further investigations into the case that a letter of invitation dated July 23, 2018 was sent to the Senate President to appear on July 24, 2018 at 8am before the Investigation Team at Intelligence Response Team office, Guzape Junction, Abuja.

“Consequently, the Force is hereby re-affirming that the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, has case to answer by virtue of the facts that the statements submitted by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, earlier to Investigation Team were not explicit and detailed enough, and was discovered to require further clarifications and interrogation.’’

The Police said this is coupled with the fact that Saraki in his statement, claimed that the full text of the statement of the suspects who indicted him in their confessional statements to the Police was not shown to him.

He said: “It is, therefore, imperative for the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to report to the Police to make further statement after sighting the full text of the statement of the suspects.

“Furthermore, the Force wishes to inform the media and the public that investigation is still ongoing on the Offa bank robbery and the indictment against the Senate President from the confessions of some the arrested principal suspects, and that, there is no political influence or consideration in the matter.

“The media and the Police are veritable partners in crime prevention, protection of lives and property, and absolute compliance with the rule of law. The media are implored not to allow the pages of their esteemed publications be used to misinform the public” the statement added.

“Consequently, the Force is hereby re-affirming that the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has case to answer by virtue of the facts that the statements submitted by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki earlier to the Investigation Team were not explicit and detailed enough, and was discovered to require further clarifications and interrogation.’’

The Police said this is coupled with the fact the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki in his statement, claimed that the full text of the statement of the suspects who indicted him in their confessional statements to the Police was not shown to him.

“It is, therefore, imperative for the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to report to the Police to make further statement after sighting the full text of the statement of the suspects.

“Furthermore, the Force wishes to inform the media and the public that investigation is still ongoing on the Offa bank robbery and the indictment against the Senate President from the confessions of some the arrested principal suspects, and that, there is no political influence or consideration in the matter.

“The media and the Police are veritable partners in crime prevention, protection of lives and property, and absolute compliance with the rule of law. The media are implored not to allow the pages of their esteemed publications be used to misinform the public” the statement added.