‘AbdulRazaq is a desperate politician using Offa robbery case to settle political scores’

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has lashed out at the Kwara State Government over fresh criminal charges linked to the 2018 Offa armed robbery, describing the move as “a mere act of a desperate politician” struggling to retain control and relevance.

In a strongly worded statement posted on X, Saraki dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, accusing the state governor of attempting to weaponise the judiciary to tarnish his reputation.

“This is a mere act of a desperate politician who is losing control in his party and knows that his days in governance are numbered,” he said.

He argued that the renewed charges, which include culpable homicide and conspiracy, were not only baseless but a continuation of what he called a long-standing plot to blackmail him.

The Kwara State Government recently filed a 20-count charge against Saraki, former governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, and others, alleging their involvement in arming suspects convicted over the deadly Offa robbery of April 2018.

But Saraki rejected the claims outright, insisting there has never been any credible evidence tying him to the crime.

“For the benefit of the general public, let me categorically state that I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter, whatsoever,” he said.

He cited two separate legal advisories issued in 2018 by the Director of Public Prosecution in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which concluded there was no nexus between him and the robbery.

According to him, the current charges ignore those findings and are instead designed to mislead the public and generate negative publicity. He accused the state government of deliberately suppressing exculpatory reports while promoting what he described as “frivolous charges” through paid media campaigns.

Saraki also linked the timing of the case to his recent criticism of insecurity in Kwara, suggesting the move was retaliatory. He argued that rather than focus on worsening security conditions, including rising incidents of banditry and kidnapping, the state leadership had chosen to pursue political vendettas.

He further alleged attempts by the government to pressure victims’ families into filing civil suits against him, claiming those efforts failed.

In a personal swipe, Saraki questioned the judgment and competence of the governor, attributing it to limited educational background and accusing him of dragging the state’s leadership into disrepute.

“For a man who never completed secondary school education, it is difficult for him to appreciate the issues involved in any matter. His level of education is definitely affecting his judgment,” he said.

He said the governor was exploiting the immunity of his office to launch what he described as a “vicious attack” on his reputation, adding that accusing two former governors of armed robbery ridiculed the office of the governor and diminished the state’s image.

Saraki further criticised the administration’s record on security, alleging that over 400 lives had been lost to banditry between January 2025 and March 2026, with more than 100 kidnappings recorded.

He said it was troubling that the governor was focused on prosecuting his predecessors instead of addressing insecurity, describing it as evidence of a “dark mindset” and misplaced priorities.

Despite the escalating rhetoric, Saraki expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying his legal team is prepared to challenge the charges in court.

“I believe the judiciary will always sort out the chaff from the wheat… My legal team have been fully briefed and I know this case against me will collapse like a pack of cards,” he said.

The Offa robbery, one of Nigeria’s most high-profile criminal cases in recent years, left several people dead and triggered nationwide outrage.