Kwara Govt to Saraki: DPP Advice on Offa Robbery Not Clearance, Urges Court Defence

The Kwara State Government has dismissed claims that a legal advisory from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) exonerates former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over his alleged link to the 2018 Offa bank robbery, insisting instead that the matter should be settled in court.

In a firm response to Saraki’s recent public remarks describing the charges against him as a politically motivated “witch-hunt,” the state government maintained that the DPP’s advice does not amount to a declaration of innocence. Rather, officials argued that it only reflects prosecutorial opinion at a particular stage and does not override the state’s obligation to pursue justice where evidence exists.

The government emphasized that ignoring the available evidence tying Saraki to the Offa robbery case would amount to a dereliction of duty. It stressed that the appropriate forum for determining guilt or innocence remains the court of law, urging the former governor to present his defence there instead of relying on public statements.

The controversy follows the filing of a 20-count charge by the state government against Saraki and former Kwara governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. The charges reportedly relate to allegations of complicity in arming suspects who were later convicted in connection with the deadly Offa robbery incident.

Saraki, who governed Kwara State from 2003 to 2011 and later served as Senate President, has consistently denied any involvement, describing the renewed allegations as an attempt to tarnish his reputation.

The Offa robbery, which occurred in April 2018, resulted in the deaths of dozens of people, including security personnel, and remains one of the most high-profile criminal cases in Kwara State’s history. Courts have since convicted several perpetrators, but the broader political and legal implications continue to generate debate.

With the state government reaffirming its stance, the unfolding legal battle is expected to test both the strength of the prosecution’s claims and the defence mounted by Saraki in the coming court proceedings.