The Ministry of Justice through the Public Prosecution Office has told the police that there was no evidence that linked Senate President Bukola Saraki and Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to the armed robbery attack that left several people dead in Offa, Kwara State, in April.
The ministry said this in a June 22 letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris asking to the police to ramp up their investigation and also painstakingly explore all critical areas before identifying the Senate President as a suspect in the carnage, much less filing charges against him.
Over 30 people were reportedly killed and several others injured after armed robbers attacked a commercial bank in Offa, Kwara State in April.
The police thereafter claimed its investigations revealed suspects had ‘direct link’ to Saraki and Abdulfatai Ahmed, governor of Kwara.
Some of the suspects reportedly claimed that Saraki provided them with some of the exhibits used for the operation.
Both men have denied all of the allegations brought against them.
Mohammed U.E, Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, wrote Idris Ibrahim, Inspector-General of Police, saying from evidence in the interim report on the matter, his office could not establish a nexus between Saraki, Ahmed, and the suspects.
“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.”
See letter
