The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kwara State

  • Police insists Saraki has case to answer

    The Nigeria Police Force have insisted that the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki has a case to answer.

    Contrary to a report by an online media that the Senate President was cleared by the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Force said the Senate President was not exonerated adding that the Police  was only asked to do further investigation.

    Saraki was indicted by the statements made by five principal suspects in connection to Offa robbery.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to publication on Premium Times Online Media publication credited to one Samuel Ogundipe, that “there was no evidence that linked Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to the Armed Robbery attack that left 31 persons dead in Offa, Kwara State, in April, Premium Times can now confirm”.

    “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 5th April, 2018.

    Read Also: Police denies besieging Saraki’s residence

    “The DPP advice did not exonerate the Senate President, it only called for further investigations into the matter”, the Police stated.

    The statement further reads: “It is in the course of further investigations into the case that a letter of invitation dated 23rd July, 2018 was sent to the Senate President to appear on 24th July, 2018 at 8.00am 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 the Investigation Team was not explicit and detailed enough, and was discovered to require further clarifications and interrogation, and 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, Sen. 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 Police urged the media not to allow the pages of their esteemed publications be used to misinform the public adding that they are veritable partners in crime prevention, protection of lives and property, and absolute compliance with the rule of law.

  • ‘Number of orphans increasing’

    An Ilorin, Kwara State-based Islamic Orphanage Foundation lamented the growing number of orphans in the various internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Nigeria.

    The foundation is worried because the trend is being caused by the spate of killings going on in parts of the country.

    It also expressed worries about the safety of those in IDPS camps amidst persistent insecurity and killings in some parts of the country.

    The foundation which was established 13 years ago currently has 276 displaced orphans in its care.

    Chairman of the foundation Ahmad Allege said this in Ilorin, the state capital, at this year’s annual meeting of the IOF.

    He urged the federal government to as a matter of urgency stop the killings.

    “We appeal to the federal and state governments, traditional and spiritual institution leaders to address the issue of insecurity in the country as we all know that the result of this will produce a lot of orphans all over. Our IDP centres are also not safe with incessant attacks on the innocent people. We want to see the whole scenario as being politically motivated. [Those behind the] killings must be identified and brought to book,” he said.

    Allege, an architect, said the foundation was always overwhelmed at the beginning of every academic session when raising funds for the payment of orphans who were in higher institutions.

    He said, “As at today I wish to let you know that our children are 276 in number out of which 84 of them are in tertiary institutions all over the country, while 9 are receiving training on in different professions out of which four will be empowered today.”

    He urged government at all levels to “create a window” through which they would engage orphans who graduate from school under the foundation’s care to reduce the rate of unemployment.

    He expressed displeasure that some parents have not been taking good care of children in their custody saying that the foundation would take custody of most of the children when its centre is completed.

     

  • Allow defectors, concerned PDP members tell leaders

    Some concerned People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state has urged party leaders to welcome intending defectors with open arms in the party.

    This according to the concerned members will fortify the party ahead of 2019 elections, thus enhancing its chances.

    The members in a statement under the aegis of Concerned Members of PDP, Kwara state chapter, argued that “Nigerians believe that our parry is the popular platform for serious minded politicians and thus we cannot afford to be unduly selective in our membership drive”.

    The call came as the National Chairman of the PDP; Prince Uche Secondus said the party is open to all possible defectors from the R-APC, and other opposition members who are not satisfied with the current affairs of the country.

    Secondus made the statement in Ilorin, during a condolence visit to the former PDP national leader, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, over the loss of his mother.

    The concerned PDP members statement was signed by  Alhaji Abdullahi Lateef (Balogun Fulani Ward 11), Alhaji Danjuma Hamid (Oko-Erin),  Moshood Issa (Alanamu), Prince Olabode, M. A. (Ibagun), and Ayinde Wasiu (Aare1).

    The statement reads in part: “If we are desirous of winning come 2019, we must maintain an open door policy to all new members nationally unless we have made up our minds to only participate in the coming elections with the usual dismal outcome of failures.

    Read Also: PDP rejects poll results

    “All sincere and faithful members of the PDP in the state are aiming to win in the forthcoming general elections both at the state and federal levels we want whoever emerges as our party gubernatorial candidate to occupy the Kwara state Government House come 2019. To be able to achieve this, we are ca;;ing on all party leaders and members off all rival political parties to decamp en mass into the PDP today in order to be part of the  moving train.

    “This clarion call coming at this point in time is most appropriately directed also to big time political leaders like the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Bashir Bolarinwa. They should jettison the docile APC for the PDP.”

    The group allayed the fears being expressed by some members of the party in the state over the possibility of losing their offices due to the influx of new members; saying to have such fears is to be pessimistic about the positive sides of the defections into the party.

    “We are earnestly saying No, to recurrent electoral failures as we have grown weary and tired of losing at every election in Kwara state since 2015”, the statement said, adding that the party should be ready to accept the likes of Saraki and others whom they described as acclaimed game changers.”

  • Kwara spends N6.5b on water project

    The Kwara state government said it has, between 2009 and 2018 expended over N6.5 billion on water reticulation scheme in the state.

    The efforts are aimed at tackling perennial water scarcity in Ilorin and its environs.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital, Commissioner for Water Resources Alhaji Abdulkadir Yusuf said that a sum of N1.9 billion was also captured in the 2018 budget to be spent on tertiary water reticulation in some parts of the state to ensure regular supply of potable water.

    The commissioner was accompanied by some other aides of the governor, a consultant to the state government on the water rehabilitation project, Prof Sulaiman Adeyemi

    Prof Adeyemi said that water challenge had lingered for so long in the metropolis because of the need to provide adequate water production, renewal of water distribution network, increase storage capacity, restoration of old pipes, and provision of adequate water treatment plant.

    The water expert, who said that the state government, since 2003, had been able to double water treatment capacity in the metropolis, added that water connection to communities, particularly in the Ilorin metropolis, would be commissioned in September.

    Prof Adeyemi explained that water provision project, is in primary,  secondary and tertiary stages.

    Read Also: Kwara keeps N200m for health scheme

    He added that homes would have opportunity to connect to state water corporation pipes after completion of the tertiary water reticulation scheme.

    He, however, said that the state government would still need to carry out a lot of investment in water project in the near future with daily expansion of the Ilorin metropolis and other parts of the state with attendant increased population.

    The commissioner, who urged residents of the state to be prepared to pay a token to get regular provision of potable water in their homes, said that dirty water may be cheap, adding that potable water cannot be free and cheaper than that got from water vendor.

    The commissioner said that administration of Dr.  Bukola Saraki expended about N3.7 billion on water scheme in the state, adding that the present government had spent over N2.4 billion on the scheme while about N858million was spent through infrastructural fund programme of the state government.

  • Outcome of Ekiti poll will determine 2019 election, says PDP

    National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Prince Uche Secondus Saturday said that the result of the governorship election in Ekiti state would determine the 2019 general elections in the country.

    Secondus said this in Ilorin, Kwara state in an interaction with reporters during a condolence visit to former nPDP National Leader, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, who lost his mother during the week in Ilorin, Kwara state.

    He berated the federal government over its inability to share the monthly federal allocation for June 2018 after three meetings with state and local governments in the country.

    Read Also:Ekiti 2018: PDP deplores alleged attack on members, ballot snatching

    The PDP chairman described Baraje as a brother and friend as well as former chairman of the PDP.

    He said that  the Ekiti election will the beginning of the general elections coming up next year and as such that anything short of a credible poll would spell doom for the nation.

    Said he: “I’m here on condolence visit to my former chairman of the PDP and by the grace of God our friend and our brother.

    “We expect the Ekiti election to be credible, we believe anything short of that will cause crisis and you know Ekiti election is the beginning of all elections that will come in 2019. If Ekiti election is not properly conducted then there will be no election in 2019”

    Asked about alleged overtures from the camp of the nPDP, to rejoin the PDP, Secondus said everyone, including the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki,is welcome to the party and that in any case they are already working together under the grand alliance.

    “Everyone is welcome, it is a large house and you know above all we have a larger gathering; the grand alliance and so we are working together,” he said.

    Asked about the failure to share the federal allocation after three meetings, Secondus said. “You can see how they are running the economy”, to which Baraje added:  “it is a sign of failure” before they both went to sit with the Islamic cleric preaching at the venue.

  • Kwara sets aside N200m for health scheme

    Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Thursday said his administration has set aside an initial sum of N200 million for funding of the state health insurance scheme.

    The fund is tagged Kwara State Health Insurance Fund.

    Governor Ahmed spoke this in Ilorin, the state capital at the launch of KHIS, adding that the scheme provides low, affordable premium and associated quality healthcare.

    He said that the scheme would take his administration closer to dream of universal healthcare for the people.

    “With daily contribution of N25, no more will citizens and residents of Kwara State be unable to access critical treatment because they cannot afford to pay hospital fees or buy prescribed drugs”, he said.

    The governor also said that his administration was committed to contributing 1 per cent of annual Consolidated Revenue Fund to subsidize premiums and service delivery to those considered part of the poorest in the society.

    “Furthermore, we are boosting the Scheme with 40 per cent of funds received through the “Saving One Million Lives Performance for Results Initiative”—an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health, supported by the World Bank and targeted towards the improvement of maternal and child health in Nigeria” he said.

    Read Also: Kwara APC hails Buhari on Saraki’s acquittal

    Governor Ahmed also said that benefit packages of the health insurance scheme include preventive, and curative components of health care delivery, adding that it would have minimum standards of care and service from participating health care facilities in the public and private sector.

    In her speech, the executive secretary of the scheme, Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, said that registration of enrollees would commence on August 2, 2018 in all the 193 political wards in the state.

    Also speaking, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ali Ahmad, enjoined political office holders to bankroll contribution of enrollees to enable people in the grassroots to benefit.

     

  • How Kwara Govt was swindled of N227m

    An Ikeja high court heard on Monday how one Mohammed Gobir and his company Mondial Defence Systems Limited stole N 227 million from the Kwara State government.

    Mohammed Gobir, 55, and an indigine of Kwara state, is facing a five count charge bordering on stealing, forgery and dishonestly converting monies entrusted to him for the purchase of three units of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) by the Kwara State government  preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) before Justice Josephine Oyefeso.

    Gobir however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Zainab Ettuh, a prosecution witness, Funmilola Adejulu  told the court how a petition dated October 21, 2015 was received by the Commission from one William Ezenwa.

    Adejulu, who works as an operative with the EFCC is the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial.

    The witness said the petitioner alleged that the defendant, Mohammed Gobir under false pretense obtained the sum of 45796.61USD from him  under false pretense.

    She further told the court that the petitioner who is a country manager of T.A.G4 Armour Nigeria limited, a sister company to The Armour Group based in USA, alleged that his company entered into an agreement to procure three units of Armour Personnel Carriers (APC) for Oyo State government and how he paid the sum of 300USD and refused to pay an outstanding of 146.964USD.

    “The petitioner also alleged that while the Oyo State transaction was ongoing, the defendant informed him to produce another five APC for Kwara state government which he later reduced to three.

    “We sent the identification number of the three vehicles he requested for, so as to enable him to process the end users certificate but the defendant did not pay for the three APC, neither did he pay for the balance of the Oyo State government APC.

    Adejulu further told the court that the complaint was invited to come and adopt his petition and he honoured the invitation.

    “We wrote to Kwara State Government, Wema Bank, RT Capital Management and the National security Adviser and they all responded.

    Read Also: 2019: Obtain your PVCs now, Gov. Ahmed tells Kwarans

    “The Kwara state government responded to the letter dated February 25, 2016. In the letter, Kwara Government stated that the letter of contract forwarded to them was different from the ones they have in their file which was the one they gave to the defendant. They also confirmed that the dates were tampered with.

    “Their letter also confirmed that they awarded a contract to the defendant to supply three units of Armour Personnel Carriers and the sum of two hundred and seventy-seven million was fully paid to him between October 2912-July 2013.

    The witness further told the court that Kwara state government confirmed that Gobir did not deliver the APC and several demands for him to deliver the three units APC yielded no response from him.

    “Kwara state government also confirmed that they contacted the Ministry of Justice to help them get the defendant to supply the APC or return the fund.

    The prosecution witness also told the court that the defendant was invited by the commission and he volunteered a statement to her and a another team member identified as Danladi.

    Adejulu said when Gobir was confronted with the petition, he responded in writing.

    “He admitted that Kwara government gave him a contract and that the money was fully paid. He also mentioned that he bought the three vehicles as well as the end users certificate, while he also admitted that the vehicles were not delivered yet.

    “He however mentioned in his statement that he did not engage the Armour Group to produce the three APC and that the production was being handled by a Dubai company, though he could not produce any document relating to the Dubai Company and the said APC” she said.

    According to Adejulu, the commission also contacted a director in Kwara State government, one Alhaji Umar Kayode Sidiq, who reported to the commission.

    “Sidiq confirmed that Kwara state government awarded the contract to Gobir at the sum of two hundred and seventy-even million naira to him and he was fully paid

    “She said the director told the commission that the defendant did not deliver the APC and he was only responding via  phone that he was working on it.

    “The Commission also got a response from Wema bank that the said amount was received from Kwara state government and his bank statements shows that the defendant moved funds at different times to different Bureau’re changes which includes; Mua BDC, Binbahun BDC, CP Express limited and RT Capital management.

    “The General Manager of RT management, Juli Ola also responded to our letter.
    Juli said they received the fund from the defendant and upon his instruction, the monies were converted to dollars and transferred into his personal bank account in London.

    The witness further narrated to the court how National Security Adviser also replied the Commission by confirming that the three APC  identification registration numbers gotten by Gobir  for the  Nigerian Police, Kwara was genuine as to the end users certificate that was produced which has the defendant as the vendor.

    The trial however could not go on due to the fact that the prosecution did not serve the letter which the NSA wrote to EFCC on the defendant’s counsel.

     Justice Oyefeso ordered the prosecution to serve the defence counsel with the necessary documents.

    She thereafter adjourned the matter until September 13, 2018 for continuation of trial.

  • El-Rufai commends IGP

    Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Thursday hailed the Inspector-General of Police for doing an excellent job in the country.

    He urged all Nigerians to support the IGP in riding the country of crimes and criminality.

    El-Rufai said this in Oro, Irepodun local government area of Kwara State at the annual Ramadan Lecture.

    The lecture was organized by the Minister of Information and Culture,  Lai Mohammed

    The National Assembly had just passed no confidence vote on the IGP.

    NASS considered IGP’s actions and inactions as antithetical to democracy

    The lawmakers raised against the police chief issues such as his failure to personally appear before the Senate when summoned on the state of Security of the nation,  the invasion of the Senate and carting away of the maze by some miscreants and the invitation of the Senate President,  Bukola Saraki for interrogation over Offa bank robbery.

    El-Rufail, praised the police boss at the occasion when he was thanking Chief Imam of Oro, Mikhail Onisan for praying for the nation and leaders.

    Read Also: Reject violence in 2019, El-Rufai urges people

    He said: “I thank the Chief Imam for his prayers for the country, President Buhari,  the Inspector-General of Police who is doing an excellent job,  the minister of Information and others.  May God accept his prayers.”

    He also commended the guest lecturer, Prof.  Raheemson Olawale whom he said pointed out good things people do in the country and also spoke against the bad practices of the  people.

    He prayed that God should favour President Buhari with good health as he leads the country.

    Also speaking, the Minister, Mohammed, praised El-Rufai as he described him as a detribalised Nigerian saying he believes in merit rather than tribal or religious sentiment.

    Mohammed while noting that most chiefs of the Oro community who attend the annual lecture are Christians and that some of the editions of the programme were held at a church compound described the community as religiously harmonious and tolerant and advised other communities of the country to emulate the community

  • Offa robbery suspects attended Saraki daughter’s wedding – Police

    The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday said that investigations have shown that five suspects of the April 5 multiple bank robberies in Offa, Kwara State,  attended the wedding ceremony of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

    The Force also said that investigations showed that three gang leaders who participated actively in the Offa bank robberies, Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye aka Arrow and Adeola Abraham followed Dr. Saraki to Oloffa’s Palace when he paid a condolence visit to Offa after the robberies.

    It displayed photographs which showed one of the suspects wearing an aseobi used during the embattled senator’s daughter’s wedding.

    Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, ACP Jimoh Moshood, disclosed these while parading two new suspects out of the three persons named by the gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun a.k.a AY, in the Offa bank robberies in Abuja on Wednesday. He said one of the suspects was still at large.

    He gave the names of the suspects as Alhaji Kehinde Gobiri aka Captain ‘47yrs’ and Alhaji Oba Shuaib Olododo aka Jawando ‘53yrs’ both native of Kwara state.

    Moshood explained that the suspects had provided useful information to the Police about their connections to the embattled senator.

    He told reporters that both suspects have admitted to committing crimes and criminalities for the senate president in Kwara Central Senatorial District under the guise of political thuggery.

    Read Also: Offa robbery: Allegations against Saraki, Governor Ahmed

    He said: “The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two out of the three suspects mentioned by the overall gang leader of Offa Bank robbery. The two suspects are now in Police custody.

    “They have admitted to various crimes and criminalities they have committed in Kwara Central Senatorial District under the guise of political thuggery for the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki. They are currently under investigation and will be charged to court on completion of investigation.

    “New revelations from further investigation into the matter show that all the five gang leaders namely; Akinnibosun, Ogunleye, Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran have direct connection to the Senate President as new pictures of one of the five gang leaders when paraded by the police earlier in the week was in ‘Aso Ebi’ (trouser) used during the Senate President daughter’s wedding.”

    “The gang leaders further admitted that they attended the Senate President daughter’s wedding held recently.

    “It was also discovered during further investigations that three gang leaders who participated actively in the Offa Bank robbery; (1) Ayoade Akinnibosun aka AY, (ii) Ibukunle Ogunleye aka Arrow and (iii) Adeola Abraham followed the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki to Oloffa’s Palace when the Senate President paid a condolence visit to Offa after the bank robbery.”

    Moshood also said the senate president was still under investigation in connection with the bank robberies.

    The Force PRO said the police had not withdrawn its summon issued to Dr. Saraki, in regards to the bank robberies.

    He insisted that investigators were still expecting the Senate President to report to the Force Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja to explain his links to the five gang leaders involved in the robberies.

    Moshood added that it was only the police that could issue a statement about the ongoing investigation, noting that Saraki was being expected for interrogation by the police.

    He also said the Force would not be deterred in its investigation no matter the personality involved.

    According to him, the confessions of the suspects under its custody showed that the senate president had a case to answer.

    He said: “The invitation was never withdrawn, I read to you (journalists) that the Senate President was being invited to come and answer to the allegations levelled against him by the five gang leaders here. As I said earlier on, the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has a case to answer.

    “The Nigeria Police Force will not be cowed or succumb to intimidation from any quarter in carrying out a thorough and discreet investigation into the Offa bank robberies where significant successes have been recorded.

    “The ongoing investigation will be driven to a logical conclusion. Meanwhile, the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki is still under investigation in connection to the robbery and the Nigeria Police Force will do everything possible within the ambit of the law to ensure that justice is done in this case.”

    The gang leader, Akinnibosun in an interview explained that his gang members went with the Senate President to visit the Oloffa’s palace, but not on his invitation, adding that they heard about the visit through Saraki’s friend, Samshudeen Baca who invited them.

    He said: “I have a friend, he is a politician close to the Senate President, his name is Samshudeen Bada. He was the one that called me and told me that the Senate President was going to Offa, so I called Kunle Arrow and I called Adex that the Senate President is going to Offa.

    “I went with my Lexus SUV to pick them and we went to Offa and on getting there, not quite 10-15 minutes, the Senate President was done. When he was done with the Olofa, he said he was going to Ilorin, we followed him, when we got to a village, Eleyeoka, he stopped to ease himself, Senator Ibrahim Rafiu (Saraki’s friend) now gave us N50,000, he gave the money to me,” the suspect stated

    When asked how he got the Aso-ebi (ceremony uniform) that was worn during Saraki’s daughter’s wedding, Abraham said it was provided by Akinnibosu, stressing that he had no direct relationship with the Senate President, insisting that he was just a mere political follower.

    The suspect who was still wearing the Aso-ebi, could not provide the amount of money that was stolen during the robberies, adding that it had not been shared.

    “After the operation, I asked Kunle about the money that was realized and Kunle asked Ayoade (Akinnibosun) who asked Adikwu who is the overall leader of the gang. He said we can’t share the money now because the police may use it to track us,” he stated.

  • Offa Robbery: Kwara Monarch cautions police against Sensationalism

    The Oofa of Offa, Offa local government area of Kwara State Oba Muftau Gbadamosi has cautioned the police to avoid unnecessary sensationalism in the handling of the investigation into the April 5th robbery incident in the ancient town. 

    The monarch also absolved Senate President Bukola Saraki of any complicity in the robbery incident that took place in Offa.

    Oba Gbadamosi said this in a statement by his Principal Private Secretary, Dr Tajudeen Oloyede.

    He said as far the people of Offa are concerned, Saraki has taken Offa as his second home and have been supportive of all activities and development projects in the town. 

    He added: “The Senate President always heeded to our call anytime we approach him on any issue concerning the progress and security of our ancient town. 

    “The Offa people are well bred citizen of Nigeria and we are appreciative of people who have extended hands of fellowship to us.  Dr. Saraki is one such person and thus we hold him in high esteem.

    “When the Offa robbery incident happened, the Senate President was the first top public official to pay a visit to our town and right there in the Palace in the glare of the High Chiefs and other well-meaning personalities, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Saraki put a call to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, requesting him to make necessary security arrangement which our people has long been yearning for. 

    Read Also: Offa robbery: Kwarans in heated debate over Saraki-police rift

    “The Senate President also donated substantial money to help some of our people who were in distress as a result of the robbery incident and he also made substantial contribution towards the building of a new police station.

    “We wish to state that the Senate President is a former Governor of Kwara State and by the grace of God the number three citizen of this country, we will therefore not be a party to attempt to ridicule, embarrass, denigrate and disgrace him.  We know his antecedent, family and political beliefs.

    “We therefore call on the police to be alive to their responsibility and avoid unnecessary sensationalism in the handling of the investigation into the Offa robbery incident.  We will appreciate that this case is thoroughly investigated devoid of media trial and unnecessary and undue publicity.  Our interest remain in the law taking its course against those who unleashed mayhem and violence against our people in order to prevent recurrence of such crime in our society.”

    The statement reads: “The attention of Olofa’s Palace, Offa, the traditional domain of His Royal Majesty, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, Ajagungbade I, the Olofa of Offa has been drawn to the claims made by the police at a Press conference in Abuja on 3rd of June, 2018 where some of the suspects arrested in connection with the robbery incidents which occurred in our town in April implicated Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Senate President.  While we will not want to prejudice the investigation by the police on this case, the community will appreciate thoroughness to ensure equity and justice on the matter.

    “As far as we are concerned, Dr. Bukola Saraki has taken Offa as his second home and have been supportive of all our activities and development projects in the town.  The Senate President, always heeded to our call anytime we approach him on any issue concerning the progress and security of our ancient town.  The Offa people are well bred citizen of Nigeria and we are appreciative of people who have extended hands of fellowship to us.  Dr. Saraki is one such person and thus we hold him in high esteem.

    “When the Offa robbery incident happened, the Senate President was the first top public official to pay a visit to our town and right there in the Palace in the glare of the High Chiefs and other well-meaning personalities, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Saraki put a call to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, requesting him to make necessary security arrangement which our people has long been yearning for.  The Senate President also donated substantial money to help some of our people who were in distress as a result of the robbery incident and he also made substantial contribution towards the building of a new police station.

    “We wish to state that the Senate President is a former Governor of Kwara State and by the grace of God the number three citizen of this country, we will therefore not be a party to attempt to ridicule, embarrass, denigrate and disgrace him.  We know his antecedent, family and political beliefs.

    “We therefore call on the police to be alive to their responsibility and avoid unnecessary sensationalism in the handling of the investigation into the Offa robbery incident.  We will appreciate that this case is thoroughly investigated devoid of media trial and unnecessary and undue publicity.  Our interest remain in the law taking its course against those who unleashed mayhem and violence against our people in order to prevent recurrence of such crime in our society.

    “Offa people will also advise the media both social and traditional mass media to be cautious and refrain from becoming instrument that can be used to tarnish the image of prominent Nigerians most especially the one targeted at the office and person of the Senate President.  We call on the media to also do a proper logical evaluation of any information passed on to them before going public with it.”