Govt re-opens robbery case, files 20-count charge against ex–Senate President Saraki
Govt re-opens robbery case, files 20-count charge against ex–Senate President Saraki
The Kwara State Government has instituted a 20-count charge against former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and ex-governor of the state, Abdulfatah Ahmed, over alleged involvement in the 2018 Offa bank robbery.
Also named in the suit are Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former Chief of Staff to Ahmed, and Alabi Olalekan, an aide. The case was filed at the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on April 9, 2026.
The charges stem from allegations that the defendants armed and conspired with suspects already convicted in connection with the robbery incident.
“That you OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI, ABDULFATAH AHMED, YUSUF ABDULWAHAB, ALABI OLALEKAN, AYOADE AKINNIBOSUN (now a convict), IBIKUNLE OGUNLEYE (now a convict), ADEOLA ABRAHAM (now a convict), SALAWU AZEEZ (now a convict) and NIYI OGUNDIRAN (now a convict) on or about the 5th day of April, 2018 at Offa, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to do an illegal act to wit; committed armed robbery at the premises of Guarantee Trust Bank Plc, Offa branch, First Bank of Nigeria Plc Offa branch, Eco Bank Offa branch and Union Bank Plc Offa branch and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act. CAP R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Punishable under Section 1(2) of the same Act,” the charge sheet reads.
“That you OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI, ABDULFATAH AHMED, YUSUF ABDULWAHAB, ALABI OLALEKAN, AYOADE AKINNIBOSUN (now a convict), IBIKUNLE OGUNLEYE (now a convict), ADEOLA ABRAHAM (now a convict), SALAWU AZEEZ (now a convict) and NIYI OGUNDIRAN (now a convict) on or about the 5th day of April, 2018 at Offa, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while armed with guns and explosives robbed the staff and premises of Zenith Bank Plc Offa branch and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act. CAP R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
The charges are linked to the April 5, 2018 robbery attacks in Offa, during which multiple banks and a police station were targeted, leaving 33 persons dead, including a pregnant woman and 12 police officers.
In September 2024, a Kwara State High Court convicted five suspects Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran on charges of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.
The Court of Appeal Nigeria upheld their conviction in January.
Following the robbery, police investigations alleged that Akinnibosun, identified as the gang leader, claimed the group operated as political thugs linked to Saraki and received vehicles and financial support through Abdulwahab.
While addressing journalists after his arrest, Akinnibosun said the group had worked for Saraki during his tenure as governor but maintained that the former Senate President was unaware of their involvement in the robbery.
In a subsequent court hearing in March 2019, the suspect also alleged that a senior police officer pressured him and others to implicate Saraki in the crime.
Saraki has consistently denied any connection to the robbery suspects or the incident.
Saraki served as governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011 and later as Senate President between 2015 and 2019, while Ahmed succeeded him as governor and held office from 2011 to 2019.
