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Tag: Offa robbery

  • Offa robbery: Demand for justice

    Offa, the land of my birth and a community of outstanding citizens and achievements, is suddenly now in the spotlight for negative reasons following the callous brutal and inhuman robbery that took place in the town leaving 33 innocent souls dead with  trail of colossal casualties to banks, individuals including pains, tears, anguish, sorrow etc of monumental proportion. In recent times the robbery in terms of sophistication and mode of operation is unprecedented in the history of our country.

    Given the scale of unprecedented tragedy unleashed on Offa people and the attendant pain, anguish and tears, the least any decent patriot will expect is the element of justice with strong demand that perpetrators of such  man inhumanity to man akin to genocide be fished out and brought to justice. This is because those 33 innocent souls whose lives were wasted needlessly deserved to live in an ideal society where human life is not cheap and where primacy is accorded to security of lives and property. The scale of damage unleashed on Offa community and its economy by that deadly robbery operation is so huge that many businesses have collapsed and major banks are yet to recover from the shock and are undecided whether to reopen businesses in the town and if they decide on such opening, when it will be safe to continue to do business in an atmosphere of such grave insecurity.  The victims of the crime may not recover forever – families who have lost their breadwinners, homes scattered and displaced because of the trauma and a peaceful community visited with unprecedented violence with memories of pain, sorrow and tears to remember forever. Most importantly the souls of the 33 innocent people, including policemen, who lost their lives undoubtedly cry for justice in their graves.

    This background underscores the seriousness of what happened and the inculpable damage to the psyche of a people crying for justice. This demand for justice is beyond sentiments, beyond politics, beyond politicking and beyond any other spurious considerations other than the demand that perpetrators of such heinous crime are brought to book.

    I speak the mind of majority of Offa people and decent patriots across the land and outside our shores when I say that what is required in this case is justice, justice, justice particularly to those 33 innocent souls whose lives were needlessly wasted.

    The police, appreciatively, has risen to the occasion and so far they have recorded a major breakthrough with major arrests including the arrest of the leaders of the gang who continue to make unprecedented confessional statements containing dangerous disclosures against prominent individuals and high ranking public officials.  The sad development however is that rather than treat the whole episode strictly as a law and order issue, there is some deliberate attempt to introduce political colouration and sentiments with a view to shifting the focus from the quest for justice in the aftermath of high criminality to the people and the state.  This is what worries me and the reason for this intervention.  At this stage, I owe a duty to my calling as a law officer and my conscience as a patriot of Offa town to speak up and call on the rest of the world to rise up in defence of the rule of law and the sanctity of human lives needlessly wasted by the occurrence of this Offa robbery tragedy.

    As a law officer, I have to caution myself to maintain an open mind and give all persons involved the benefit of doubts insisting that the rule of law must be strictly followed to determine the guilt or innocence of any suspect.

    I have read several theories on the subject being orchestrated by vested interests and I say, such theories should be kept in abeyance while the Police is allowed to do a thorough job.  We want to know all those who were involved in the robbery, we are interested in knowing how the robbery was planned and consummated, the whole world is interested in how the operation was funded, everyone who is decent is interested in stage by stage outline of the operations, the motivation for the operation is necessary as well as the procurement of materials, dangerous weapons and firearms deployed in the operation etc.  We raise the following questions: What materials were used in the operation? Who provided these materials? Who supplied the firearms? Who funded the logistics? What are the detailed casualties in terms of lives and property? How was the amount carted away shared and who got what? What happened after the robbery operation? What materials and items have been recovered? Who are those directly involved in the robbery operation? Who are those remotely involved in the robbery operation? What is the amount of financial losses suffered by the banks?  Who were the victims of the crime and their particulars? What arrangements are being put in place to address the plight of the victims? And many others!

    Now that confessional statements are being made, these confessional statements ought to be properly investigated and verified.  Everyone mentioned in those statements high or low, rich or poor, prominent or otherwise should be summoned to explain their respective roles without exception.  No attempt should be made to play politics or introduce some other sentimental considerations to this very important issue.  Thirty-three innocent lives are involved here.  Many of these innocent lives were victims of circumstances. Some were engaged in the performance of their lawful duties as policemen and women, some were staff of banks who were rendering valuable services to earn a living, some were customers of the bank who were engaged in normal banking transactions, some were patrons of police stations to lodge legitimate complaints and seek redress and some were passersby going about their lawful businesses.These were lives that were wasted and those were souls who daily cry for justice in their graves.  We should not be seen dancing on the graves of these innocent souls. We should rather be preoccupied with securing justice for those souls as well as their families and dependants as well as the society who remain traumatised by this horrendous, callous, inhuman and wicked development.

    Olatunji Dare, great columnist in his commentary regarding the confessions made by the gangsters of the robbery made interesting observations as follows: “what one could deduce from the revelations so far is that the boys some of who are almost 50, were the enforcers of the Saraki political empire centered on Kwara State with branches in some other places, especially Kogi State.  They had access to the corridors of power and to pull strings that would make them the envy of their neighbours. They were favoured with cash and materials of war. They were supposed to be political thugs; they attack dogs to be unleashed when necessary.  But they were unfaithful criminals despite the indulgence they were pampered with by their principals.  They love to moonlight.

    We do not know how many moonlighting operations they may have been engaged in since they started their romance with the men of power.  But the one in Offa on April 5, 2018 was in a class of its own.  They decided to rob the banks in Offa and in the process, killed 33 people, including some pregnant women. To kill on such a vast scale and still think of escaping the long arms of the law and the catholic law of nemesis shows how deluded they were about the omnipotence of their godfathers. Only the so-called Fulani herdsmen can kill and maim on a vast scale across Nigeria and still remain un-arrestable.

    The Offa robbers were arrested and they started to sing. They sang about their connections to the-powers-that-be in Kwara State…”

    There is one aspect of their confessional statements that worries me, the one allegedly linking high ranking functionaries of Kwara State government.This is one confessional statement that the Kwara State government should take seriously and come out clean if governance is to be taken seriously.  In this case, the five-gang leaders have allegedly confessed that they pulled the trigger. In the event that they are tried for armed robbery and if found guilty, who will sign their death warrants? Armed robbery being a state offence triable in state high courts who will finalise the penal process at the end of the trial process assuming the suspects own up and are found guilty at the end of the trial?  If the government of Kwara State has a role to play in the criminal trial process of the suspects, is it not necessary for the governor and the government of Kwara State to submit itself for investigations and clear their names from the sordid allegations of the suspects? The other alternative open to the Police is to arraign the suspects for illegal possession of firearms which is a federal offence. Either way, the whole incident is messy except all mentioned submit themselves for investigations and clearance.

    For the sake of all of the above, we should focus on the essentials.  This is not the time to play politics.  This is not the time to derail the police from performing their duties.  This is not the time for unnecessary sloganeering. This is not the time to becloud or confuse issues and certainly, this is not the time to organise sponsored rallies and demonstrations to derail the process.

    At this stage, we are not prejudging anyone but let everyone whose name has been mentioned submit to police investigations.  No matter how big anyone is, the law is bigger.

    I speak the mind of the majority of my people when I say that anyone who is not concerned about justice to the 33 innocent souls, whose lives were wasted, is an enemy of the people.  We should not be seen dancing on the graves of the Offa 33 whose lives were needlessly wasted. Those lives for God sake are human beings and not chickens and they deserve justice.  It is important to note that the tragic Offa robbery has gone global and with the whole world watching developments. This is one incident that cannot be swept under the carpet or trivialised for whatever reasons.

    What are the demands?  We urge the police to intensify investigations and ensure that all those who were involved in this monumental tragedy are speedily brought to justice in line with the requirement of the rule of law.

    Inspite of the confessional statements and the several theories flying around, we prefer to maintain an open mind, not indicting anyone or insisting anyone is guilty or innocent but we urge all to submit to the investigative process and allow the police to do its job unhindered by sentiments, sloganeering, politics and politicisation aimed at beclouding the real issue which remain the demand for JUSTICE.

    We further demand that the Offa robbery incident be treated strictly as a law and order issue and not a political issue to be swept under the carpet.

    Finally, we urge that the whole world should rise to deliver justice in this matter particularly to Offa 33 whose lives were needlessly and callously wasted.

    These are our demands and we stand by them. History and posterity also stand by these demands.

  • Group to IGP: handle Offa robbery case professionally

    A group under the auspices of Citizens Communication and Advocacy Center (CCAC) yesterday urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris to act professionally and unbiased in handling the Offa bank robbery saga.

    CCAC called on President Muhammadu Buhari “not to remain aloof or being seen protecting anybody but wades into the issue because it is capable of derailing our democracy.”

    CCCAC Executive Director  Charles Ibiang at a news conference in Abuja on the development warns that linking the Senate President Bukola Saraki to the Offa Bank robbery by the Police portend a great danger to the country’s democracy and serious threat to foreign investors confidence in doing business in Nigeria and with Nigerians.

    Ibiang advised the police to carry out proper investigation on every side before conclusion.

    Citizens, he said must insist that fairness; justice must be seen to be done and not vendetta or vengeance.

    The group also condemned the call for the immediate sack of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmoud Yakubu by the Southern, Middle Belt Leaders forum.

    It described the call as ‘too early, assuring that  INEC boss has been a man of integrity.

    His words: ” There have been a rash of unjustifiable attacks, killing and massacres in various parts of the country, putting our collective safety as a people in great jeopardy.

    “Recently, as you are aware, the peaceful town of Offa in Kwara State was greeted by group of dare devil robbers for a bank robbery and carnage, leaving behind in its trail unfortunate deaths of Offa citizens and officers of the Nigerian Police with attendant destruction of properties.

    “The centre condemns in the strongest terms this unfortunate incident and describing it as ungodly satanic and sheer wickedness. We extend our heartfelt condolences and commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones, the people of Offa and Kwara State.

    “We call on the security and judiciary to make sure the culprits are severely punished or prosecuted according to the law of the land. We acknowledge the Police for the speedy arrest of the culprits, and wish this rapid response action should be extended to other cases pervasive in the country.

    “However, we are very concern about the politicisation of the issues in the Offa bank robbery whereby a legislator is accused, the Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki is been accused of sponsoring armed robbery despite the fact that he is the head of all important legislature, the third ranking political office holder in Nigeria and former two time governor of Kwara State. By this action  we are worried that the dastardly act maybe compromised.

    “In the same vein, we are concern that the integrity of  Senate President and entire institution of the National Assembly would be tarnished and reduced to rubbles on unsubstantiated allegation of sponsoring or aiding robbers and murderers. The centre considered this very mundane, petty and the lowest we could degenerate as people capable of portraying us badly before the international community.

    “We condemns this recent pastime of the Police in fighting serious crime in our country troubling, where security operatives will attempt to frame up highly place public officers using hardened criminals just to get at them for holding contrary view on National Issues without serious consequences or sanction by the appropriate or regulating institutions.”

  • Offa robbery too serious to be politicised, says Ahmed

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the Offa bank robbery and ensure that all those involved in the dastardly act are brought to justice.

    The governor spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, when he hosted members of the state’s Artisan Congress, led by their President, Alhaji Saadu Alawaye, at the Government House.

    They were on a solidarity visit to the governor to protest the alleged politicisation of the robbery.

    Ahmed urged the police not to politicise the incident, saying the robbery, in which 33 persons died, was too serious to be politicised.

    The governor reiterated his belief in the nation’s judicial system and the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure justice and equity.

    He said: “Since the criminals have made confessional statements about their armourer, they should be treated accordingly.

    “We’re worried that the dimension the issue is taking, and especially the media trial by the police even before conclusion of investigation, may give other suspects at large a leeway to escape. This is why it’s necessary for the police to arrest all those involved in the incident and prosecute them accordingly.”

    The governor urged Nigerians to add their voices to critical national issues in order to ensure equity and justice.

    Ahmed, who assured the congress that his administration would not relent in supporting the informal sector, insisted that whoever benefitted from the government’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) support scheme and still engaged in criminal acts must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    Alawaye said the team was at the Government House to show solidarity with the governor and Senate President Bukola Saraki over the alleged politicisation of Offa robbery.

  • Offa robbery

    No one should hinder investigations into the reprehensible crime

    The Offa robbery of April 5 was without doubt the most bloody and daring in recent times. The fact that about 33 persons were killed; including nine policemen and a pregnant woman makes it most unacceptable, and imposes on the police the burden of unearthing all those behind it. So far, to the credit of the security forces, a number of those who allegedly carried out the operation have been apprehended and they are said to be making useful statements to the police.

    Among those mentioned by the alleged robbers as being their backers in some way are the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the governor of Kwara State, Mr. Abdultaffah Ahmed. The two men are said to be sponsors of the so-called Youth Liberation Movement that turned into a deadly robbery gang. Leader of the gang, Ayoade Akinibosun, is said to have confessed to the police that the operational vehicles being used by his men were purchased or supplied by the two senior officials of state from whom they are also allegedly drawing cash support.

    Also, in the course of investigation, the police allegedly discovered a vehicle used for the operation in the Kwara State Government House and apprehended an aide to Governor Ahmed, Alabi Olalekan, from whom other firearms were reportedly recovered. Four other members of the gang confirmed the story when they were paraded before the press.

    However, the Senate President has denied the allegation, rather accusing the Inspector-General of Police with whom he has been engaged in a tiff, of trying to get him framed up. The frosty relationship between the two men in recent times got the Senate President a listening ear and sympathy from some quarters. The National Assembly, over which he presides, quickly rose up in his support and the Senate passed a vote of no confidence on the IGP, warning President Muhammadu Buhari that he would be held responsible for the actions of his appointees.

    We are not amused by the attempts to trivialise the robbery and probe it. The meeting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo held with the IGP, the Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Mallami (SAN), and the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) on the matter, is an attempt to politicise a straight-forward crime. When anyone’s name is mentioned in the course of investigating a crime, it is customary to invite such a person to help investigations. This is what we believe the police have done in this case.

    We call on the National Assembly to cease trying to intimidate the security agencies, especially the police. All they have done so far is in line with international best practices as the Senate President is not captured by section 308 of the 1999 Constitution that confers immunity on a class of executive office holders. We expect that, even if the immunity clause applies to him as it does the Kwara State Governor, the Senate President should be eager to clear his name of any wrongdoing by making public his reaction to the allegations and cooperating fully with the police.

    A fundamental part of the narrative is the link between the political class and the underworld of thugs and miscreants who serve as foot soldiers. These men do the dirty work for politicians, and they are on the payrolls. It is the same shadowy ragtag groups that gave birth to Boko Haram in the north, the Niger Delta militants, the kidnap renegades in the southeast and even some never-do-wells associated with road transport associations in the southwest.

    It is good that following the initial recalcitrance, the Senate President has now responded to the allegations from the police. But, this is not enough. Since the suspects were paraded and made their confession before the national media, we advise that the Senate President should make his response public with a view to clearing any iota of doubt about his involvement. The nagging questions are: Does the Senate President know the men? In what capacity does he know them if he does? Does he know anything about the Youth Liberation Movement and are they engaged in “political arrangements” for him? What about the allegation that the firearms found in their possession and with which they prosecuted the war against the country on April 5 was procured for them by Senator Saraki and his ally, the Kwara State governor? Are they on the Senate President’s payroll? Who bought the Lexus SUV for the gang leader, when and for what purpose?

    These are questions begging for answers as the public waits for a final resolution of the issue with culprits charged before the court. Indeed, it is a cardinal kernel of the Rule of Law that no one is above the law, and no one could claim to be more important than the state.

  • Offa robbery: Ilorin youths seek diligent police probe

    The Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association (IEYDA) yesterday urged the police to be diligent in their investigation of the bloody April 5 robbery in Offa, Kwara State.

    The association made the plea in Ilorin, the state capital, in a statement jointly signed by its National President, Alhaji Babatunde Salaudeen and National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Uthman Jagunma.

    It also expressed worry that Senate President Bukola Saraki was linked with the incident.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Jimoh Moshood, the force headquarters spokesman, had asserted at a briefing that some suspects arrested in connection with the robbery had indicted Saraki.

    IEYDA noted that while the association was for equity and justice in the police investigation, it was opposed to any attempt to ridicule and embarrass a renowned indigene of Ilorin for political reasons.

    It said: “The association strongly stands against robbery and political thuggery and as such condemns same in their totality, particularly the Offa robbery, which led to the death of innocent citizens.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Offa robbery: The macabre dance on victims’ graves

    On June 9, 2015, this newspaper’s screaming headline, I dare say, set the template for the endless political drama that continues to dog the fortunes and misfortunes of the All Progressives Congress’ led government of President Muhammadu Buhari. That seed of discord, I had suggested in a somewhat prescient piece that time, would test the grit of the party’s leadership and the way it handles the fallout of the seeming self-inflicted suicide mission would have a telling effect on its future. Written by Yusuf Alli, Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, that edition screamed: Saraki dumps APC to run with Ekweremadu. That same day, the script was played out to the chagrin and consternation of some party hawks with Saraki later saying he suffered the indignity of sleeping in the National Assembly’s car lot to be able to sneak into the Senate chambers and perfect the plot!. The rug, as they say, was pulled off the limping feet of the party goons by a treacherous clique of presumed party faithful. Thus Senator Bukola Saraki emerged Senate President and Ike Ekweremadu, of the Peoples Democratic Party, became his deputy in what was, perhaps, the most confounding political coup ever hatched by a key figure against his own political party in Nigeria’s modern history.

    That marked the beginning of the end—a precursor to the shameless melodrama playing out today. Each time I come across news reports that members of the new Peoples Democratic Party, of which Saraki is a leading figure, have threatened to dump the APC, I find myself casting a retrospective glance at the headline above. Personally, I consider it benignly farcical to say that the nPDP was about to pull out from a marriage it never consummated beyond June 9, 2015 when Saraki and his men burrowed a large hole on the delicate heart of the party that propelled them into power riding on the then popularity of Buhari. Exactly three years after as I write this, the narrative has not changed as the party’s leadership continues to rue the moment it surrendered its authority to the enemy within.

    And, if we must knock the truth on its head, the Nigerian people are the real victims of the political buffoonery of the last three years. As it is, they are the pawns in the deadly, selfish and demeaning politics of our times. In case we have forgotten so soon, the Offa bank robbery of April 5 would go down in the history of bank robberies in this nation as one of the deadliest with 31 innocent victims pumped with hot lead by the crazy bandits who carted away millions of naira. Among these were 9 policemen shot on the line of duty, pregnant women, bystanders and others who met their unfortunate end for being at the right place at the wrong time. Offa streets became a canvas of blood, soaked in crimson red as the armed robbers disappeared into thin air after the callous heist, and probably assured that they never left any trail.

    Fortuitously, whilst families of the dead and the injured gnash their teeth in anguish and the affected banks count their losses, the police swiftly moved into action and succeeded in apprehending 22 of the daredevil armed robbers with the help of intelligence and CCTV images. It was a relief to many that those who perpetrated the heinous act would face the full wrath of the law regardless of their family background, political affiliations or connections. Of course, the police got plaudits for its action. What Nigerians didn’t bargain for was what was to follow later. No one would have thought that such a serious case would offer itself to the twists and turns of the shenanigans of politics which, quite unfortunately, it has become with the decision of the police to interrogate Saraki over his alleged link with some of the arrested culprits following their confessional statements.

    Whilst it is public knowledge that there exist a no-love-lost relationship between the Senate, Saraki and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris over a number of national and personal issues, it depresses one that the matter at hand has become another opportunity for the various power blocs within the APC to flex muscles and play cheap politics. Where reasonable human beings would have seized the opportunity to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves, our crowd of egoistic leaders are busy spitting on the graves of the dead, shamelessly passing a vote of confidence on themselves, threatening impeachment on a President that has refused to interfere with ongoing investigations and thumping their chests in hollow triumphalism. Everyone is poised to recklessly abuse power. It is a pity really.

    I have struggled to see if I could justify the recalcitrance of the lawmakers’ insistence that the police’ invitation to Saraki to explain his link with some of the robbery suspects was an affront on the independence of the legislature. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any. And it is, to my mind, jejune illogic to base it on his outcry, some weeks back, that he had access to intelligence reports that Idris, whom he called when he visited Offa to commiserate with the community after the robbery, was trying to link him some criminals in a cult related case. Unless we are asking the police Intelligence Response Team to ignore the confessional statements of the suspects who said they were political thugs to the Senate President in his home state, Kwara and that one of the cars used for the robbery operation was actually a gift by Saraki through the state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, I wonder why anyone would read political persecution to the invitation.

    The allegations become weightier when the police alleged that the Lexus car was recovered from the Government House in Ilorin and revelations that a close aide to the incumbent governor is under interrogation for tampering with the number plate in a bid to obstruct investigation. Are we saying all these leads should be waved off just because this heavyweight politician’s name was mentioned by these vicious criminals? Wouldn’t it have been appropriate for the person so mentioned to clear his name instead of the resort to arm-twisting the executive to buckle under the pressure of an impeachment ringtone and order the law enforcement agent constitutionally saddled with the task of unraveling such mysteries to back off? Is that what legislative privileges is all about——flaunting ego when all it requires is a simple task of defending oneself against what could end up being petty lies by caged but desperate criminals holding on to straws? If everyone decides to ignore an invitation to defend one’s integrity by constituted authorities on the whimsical excuse of vendetta, we may as well bid farewell to law and order.

    Okay, maybe the Police erred by not following the ego-massaging protocol due to every ‘big man’ by profusely begging the distinguished senator to stroll to the station and dissociate himself from any heinous crime perpetrated by the thugs. Having said this, justice will never be served if we cavort to every silly excuse of a witch hunt by these persons. It is a cheap blackmail that must be rejected by every well-meaning citizen. Our laws should not be subjected to the whim of any individual no matter how highly placed. The way we interrogate the commoner should be the standard practice for all. This jaundiced and puerile attitude of placing certain persons above the law is hurting the system and killing the nation. Leadership should be by example and, on this matter, what is being set is a bad one.

    Curious enough, the lawmakers didn’t display this kind of riotous anger when the former Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, accused the last Senate of smuggling a whopping N17bn into the budget documents before the 2015 budget could be passed. They would, instead, protest with the mute button fully activated. But when any of them gets under the radar of the anti-graft agencies for alleged economic theft, you are sure to see them displaying complete imbecility and cheapish herd mentality, arrogantly threatening to unseat the President for allowing these agencies to discharge assigned responsibilities. Is that how democracy works—by protecting personal interests and spitting on the graves of citizens mauled down in broad daylight by bandits? Is this how the Offa 33 will get justice when the vermin and reprobates in power are more interested in spitting on their graves?

  • Offa robbery: group urges police not to politicise case

    A youth group, the Concern Kwara Youth Movement has called on the Nigeria Police Force not to politicise the April 5, Offa robbery case.

    A statement signed by the coordinator of the group Mr Salahudeen Lukman and made available to our reporter in Abuja on Friday, called for proper investigation into allegations made against Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki.

    Lukman said the group sympathised with the victims of the ugly incident and commended the State Government and the Nigeria Police Force for their swift response in reinforcing security in the area.

    “Silence in the face of injustice is sin against humanity; hence the leadership of this group has deemed it necessary to make its position known on the investigation of the case.

    “The Nigeria Police Force is greatly commended for the rapid action in apprehending the suspects, but we are also calling on the police to ignore any form of tricks to politicise the case.

    “We condemn in strong term the attempt to use the souls of 33 people including a pregnant woman and nine police officers to play politics on the altar of political vendetta.

    “We demand that the suspects be treated as armed robbers and not political thugs since they were all arrested in connection to robbery and not as political thugs,’’ he said.

    Lukman urged the police not to give the incident a political name yet, but face the investigation with all honesty to clear the suspicion of the people.

    “It is obvious that the mention of Saraki as their political god father is an attempt to draw political coloration to escape or extend the judgment.

    “We urge the police not fall for the trick but immediately investigate to get the real culprits and prosecute them,’’ he said.

    Lukman said that the mention of the Senate President in the case was nothing but a deliberate attempt to ridicule and tarnish his image and asked that the issue be handled with caution to avoid unintended damage to his personality.

  • Offa Robbery: Civil Society Coalition demands Saraki’s resignation

    A coalition of some Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in the country on Friday demanded immediate resignation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki from office over his alleged link with robbers who were involved in the bank robbery in Offa, Kwara state.

    The CSO said Saraki should also face the music for the non-declaration of his assets and alleged killings of over 33 people in Kwara State by his political thugs.

    The group under the umbrella of Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance and Democracy, recalled that Saraki’s corruption trial with the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT,  on alleged non-assets declaration was still on-going,  insisting that the path of honour for the Senate President is for him to step down to clear his name.

    Addressing Journalists in Abuja, Convener of the group, Alhaji Adamu Kabiru, who led other groups comprising labour unions, trade unions and Joint Action Committee, JAC, to the event, tasked members of the 8th Senate to do the needful by immediately impeaching Saraki as Senate President should he fail to resign.

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

    According to the group it is about time the National Assembly members bring sanity and restoration of the lost glory to the upper chamber in particular.

    The coalition lamented that Nigeria has become a laughing stock in the international community in view of the many corruption cases involving its number three citizen in government. It accused the Senate President of seeking revenge against President Muhammadu Buhari and some appointees in the crime and anti-corruption agencies.

    It described as unfortunate the fact that Saraki’s National Assembly was threatening President Buhari with impeachment following his latest problem with the Nigeria Police.

    “For Dr Saraki to threaten President Buhari with impeachment only because the police rightly invited him is the height of arrogance, and abuse of office and disrespect for the rule of law.

    “It is therefore, our considered view that the President of the Senate be impeached immediately and until this done, he will continue to hold to ransom the entire country and her development, “Kabiru said.

    Kabiru further said: “We are gathered here to affirm that for good governance and democracy to thrive, Saraki must excuse the Senate as their president and face his multiple criminal cases ranging from, financial crimes, to abuse of office, robbery, non-declaration of assets and sponsorship of militia in Kwara State.

    “I am constrained to bring to your notice that the police have invited the Senate President to offer clarifications on the level of his involvement with the Offa robbery and allegations of arms purchase to militia.

    “To this end, how then will Dr Saraki continue to stay in office as President of the Senate?  It has never been this bad for our country, ”

    Kabiru who led Mrs. Sharon N Opara from Trade Unions, Bisong Jonathan from Labour Unions and Femi Abbas from Joint Action Committee to the event, said: “To worsen the situation and to the greatest dismay and disappointment of Nigerians, the Senate President a few days ago masterminded a joint sitting of the National Assembly to muster and nurture the impeachment of President Buhari.

    “He led the joint sitting to reel out a number of conditions for the president to avert imminent impeachment; this is the height of folly, immaturity, mischief, treason, callous and gross abuse of office by Dr Saraki.

    “Interestingly, all this shenanigans are made possible by virtue of his influence as President of the Senate.

    “I am inclined to have it on good authority that the Dr Saraki has plans to use the instrumentality of the National Assembly to become the president of the country.  This ambition has been made public and needs no further microscopic lens for confirmation.’”

  • Ex-Police chief Tsav cautions against interfering in Offa robbery investigation

    Former Commissioner of Police Abubakar Tsav has cautioned the National Assembly against interfering in the Offa robbery investigation.

    In a statement in Makurdi, Benue State yesterday, Tsav warned those concerned to stop meddling in the case for the police to do a thorough job.

    He said the attempt by the National Assembly to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari was not only childish but may bother on an act of felony.

    “The Police are doing a great job and I want to appeal to the relevant authorities to allow them to do their investigative job discreetly to its logical conclusion without undue interference.

    “The threat to impeach Buhari is childish and an attempt to compound felony,” he said.

    Tsav, who is the immediate past Federal Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), advised the police against overzealousness while briefing the press.

    “I, however, want to appeal to the police to be professional in their investigation and to show no bias or overzealousness.

    “It is wrong to interrogate a suspect publicly and before a camera. It is also wrong to allow pressmen to interrogate suspects.

    “This amounts to trial by the press which may pollute the mind of any Judge before whom the suspects may be arraigned for trial,” Tsav said.

  • Offa robbery: Heated debate over Saraki-police rift

    To many, there is no big deal in inviting Senate President to explain his link with those arrested in connection to the April 5 Offa bank robbery. The invitation is an opportunity for him to clear his name. But others see the invitation as a political witch-hunt. The views are presented in this report.

    Prominent Kwara indigenes and residents were in heated debate yesterday. It was over the probe of the allegations made against Senate President Bukola Saraki by suspects in the April 5 Offa bank robbery.

    Thirty three persons, including nine policemen, were killed. Millions of naira was stolen by the gang. The police have in their custody 22 people over the bloody robbery.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police had initially invited Saraki for interrogation before soft pedalling to request for only a written explanation on his link with the suspects within 48 hours.

    Also linked to the suspects is Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed following alleged claims by the suspects that they were political thugs working for the duo.

    The senate president and the governor dismissed the allegations as an attempt to frame them.

    Not a few indigenes expressed support for the police in the ongoing investigation. They called on Saraki to respond to the allegations made against him in order to clear his name.

    Others dismissed the allegations, saying they were aimed at tarnishing the image of the senate president and the governor of his home state.

    The respondents spoke to NAN in separate interviews in Ilorin.

    An elder statesman Amuda Aluko said it would be better for the senate president to respond to the police request in order to clear his name.

    Dr. Aluko, the Tafida of Ilorin, who was of the view that Saraki could never be involved in robbery, however, said it had become expedient for him to clear his name since he was allegedly mentioned by the suspects.

    He said his Kwara Liberation Group (KLG) had spoken out about a week ago, urging Nigerians to allow the police carry out their duty on the case of the cultists transferred to Abuja from the state.

    Prof. Suleiman Abubakar, a former Minister of National Planning, said: “If the senate president has no skeleton in his cupboard, he should honour police invitation to clear his name.’’

    According to him, the claim by the suspects that they have links with the senate president makes it imperative that Saraki avails himself of the opportunity offered by the police  to clear his name.

    Prof. Abdulwahab Egbewole of the Department of Law, University of Ilorin, warned against “the politicisation of   the lives of Nigerians.”

    According to him, the police have the right by law to investigate everybody.

    “From the trajectory of the matter, it is not regarded as purely a legal issue. It has some fundamental political undertones,” he said.

    The don said that from the alleged confession of the Offa robbery suspects, it was revealed that Saraki gave a vehicle to a suspect.

    He said: “They also alleged that he gave them guns. They, however, stated that he did not tell them to rob.”

    Egbewole argued that this may be seen as being an accessory to a particular crime in law.

    He, however, pointed out that the anti-cultism law in Kwara put in place by the Saraki administration was the most stringent in the country.

    He wondered how “a person who puts in place such a law will now  go against it,”  adding that  “Saraki after all had  said he is ready to comply with the directives of the police during the course of investigation.’’

    Mr. Iyiola Oyedepo, the PDP Chairman in Kwara, urged the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the Offa robbery incident.

    He also expressed doubt that the senate president would support the suspects to engage in robbery.

    Oyedepo, however, said Saraki has a moral duty to clear his name.

    He urged the senate president to honour the police request by sending his written statement so as to clear hisname.

    “Did Saraki give them vehicle? Did Saraki provide them guns, are they his political thugs? All these questions should be answered by Sen. Bukola Saraki to clear his name,” Oyedepo said.

    The chairman called on the people of the state to rise up and demand justice so that the case would not be compromised.

    In his reaction, Rafiu Hotonu, the State Secretary of the National Union of Local Government Employers (NULGE), said there was nothing wrong with the police request asking Saraki to respond to allegations.

    “He should honour the request to clear his name. NULGE wholeheartedly supports the police because the suspects confessed that they work for the senate president, so he needs to clear his name.

    “No matter how highly placed you are in the society, once the police invite you, you are bound to honour the invitation,” Hotonu said.

    An Ilorin-based lawyer, Isaac Oladele, said there was no crime in a police invitation, urging Saraki to use the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

    Oladele, who noted that the police had even said the senate president need not appear in person, also added: “This is an opportunity for Saraki to clear his name of all the allegations of sponsoring cultists as thugs and having a link to the Offa robbery.

    “Nobody is above the law, whether you are rich or poor. The law is no respecter of anybody. I will advise the senate president to honour the invitation and clear the mess on time.’’

    But another lawyer, Tunde Jimoh, urged the public to stop politicising the matter and allow the police to conduct their investigation.

    He said: “Nigerians must allow the police to do a thorough finding. They must stop the different protests and distractions on social media.

    “Enough of interference from the external forces; there is no need to mount pressure on the senate president and the Nigeria Police in order not to complicate the matter.

    “The fact that the suspected robbers mentioned Saraki’s name in their confessional statements doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusions.

    “Nigerians must be patient and give room for thorough investigation and fair hearing from both parties rather than drawing conclusions,” he said.

    For Funsho Aina, another lawyer, the senate president must respond promptly to the matter “because of the sensitive position he is holding.

    “It is still an allegation for now and he is not yet found guilty. The best for him (Saraki) is to honourably make his statement on the matter available before it turns to another thing.

    “If there is the need for him to step down from his post as senate president to clear his name, he can do so for the sake of his integrity and that of the National Assembly,” Aina  said.

    Mr. Bayo Adeyipo, a resident, said there was need for the ruling party to close ranks and imbibe unity while shunning acts capable of derailing its future plans.

    Adeyipo stated that the initial invitation extended to the senate president bordered on a criminal act and should not be subjected to political debate.

    He said: “If anybody in power is found wanting, he should be ready to give necessary explanation by way of clearing his or her name of any wrong doing.

    “The police have laid out their facts, the onus is now on the person so accused to explore all avenues to clear his name of criminal allegations and maintain his or her integrity.”

    The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (lEDPU), a soicio-cultural organisation, however, described the police action as “a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the senate president.’’

    Ambassador Usman AbdulAzeez, the National President of the union, said the invitation of Saraki in connection with the robbery incident was a ploy to discredit him.

    “The lEDPU, which is non-political, strongly condemns  the invitation of our illustrious son who is the number three citizen of the country in connection with the robbery case,’’  he said.

    He described the initial invitation as an attempt to drag the name of the ancient town of Ilorin in the mud, stating that the senate president could not be involved in robbery.

    Alhaji Busari Adebayo, a community leader in Ipetu, also described the development as “political witch hunt ‘’   which could heat up the polity.

    “As the 2019 general elections draw nearer, the political class should imbibe tolerance and close ranks in the interest of moving the country forward.

    “The invitation to Saraki over Offa robbery is a direct fall-out of the power play as the processes toward the 2019 general elections gathers momentum.

    “What the country needs most is absolute peace and unity to achieve the sustenance of our democratic system,” he said.

    Mrs Motunrayo Aboyade, a civil servant, believes the current travails of Saraki are part of the on-going superiority tussle among APC (All Progressives Congress) leaders ahead of   the 2019 general elections.

    “The case of armed robbery levelled against Saraki will not hold water;  it is  a result of the powerful tussle at the top.

    “You can see that the invitation has now been replaced with a written explanation, that is to tell you that the whole thing is just a power game and the drama will continue to unfold with time,” Aboyade said.

    A member of the Kwara House of Assembly, AbdulRafiu  AbdukRahnan, condemned the police over the initial invitation to Saraki, saying it has negative political implications.

    Bisi Owolabi, the APC Chairman in Irepodun Local Government Area, described the development as the “continuation of the persecution of Saraki since the inception of the present administration.’’

    He maintained that the persecution, if unchecked, could affect the fortunes of the party in future elections.

    “Saraki worked for the success of the party by winning all available position in the state and he is still very much committed to the party’s principles and ideas,’’ he said.

    Another resident, Victor Peter, urged public institutions to “refrain from playing to the gallery because of politics. The police cannot continue like this; convicting people in the court of public opinion has never worked. They should do better; Nigerians deserve that.

    “Now that they have made U-turn about their initial planned invitation to Dr Saraki, let’s see how it all plays out, but as usual, I  am confident that this case is dead on arrival.’’  Peter said.