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Tag: Saraki

  • Saraki seeks security, economic cooperation with Russia

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki yesterday urged the Russian Government to reckon with Nigeria as the central area of focus in Africa.

    Saraki said the Russian Government should take a more serious view of its longstanding ties with Nigeria to expand its interests.

    He insisted that countries desirous of expanding their interests in Africa must necessarily see Nigeria as the gateway to the continent.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogu, said Saraki spoke when he addressed the Upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament known as the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, in Moscow.

    The statement described the address as “historic” because Saraki was the first head of the Nigerian legislature to perform such a function in Russia.

    Saraki also called for a stronger security, economic and cultural cooperation between Nigeria and Russia.

  • Saraki, Offa armed robbers and the law

    Under normal circumstances, one would ordinarily dismiss the recent police invitation of Bukola Saraki, the Senate President as one of the unfolding political drama where the police as presently headed by Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has been shown to be an active participant. That is if it were an isolated incident. But it becomes troubling as it appears to be a pattern of onslaught against perceived opponents of the president and/or his allies. In recent times, there was the reported invasion of Kaduna State NUJ Secretariat by political thugs allegedly under the watch of the police to attack Senators Shehu Sani and Suleiman Hunkuyi who are known adversaries of Governor El-Rufai, a foremost backer of President Muhammadu Buhari. Shortly after, the police invited the same Shehu Sani for alleged criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide by a suspect in the custody. There was the celebrated onslaught on Senator Dino Melaye. Melaye is engaged in turf battle with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who, like Governor El-Rufai is a frontline Buharist.

    Now the Senate President has been invited for what the police has once again called criminal indictment by five suspected gangsters involved in the April 5 bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State. It was the police case that five of the suspects confessed that they were political thugs used by the Senate President and Kwara State governor,Abdulfatah Ahmed. It was also the case of the police that the five gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name ‘Youth Liberation Movement, a.k.a ‘Good Boys’ and that the boys admitted having been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles by Senator Saraki and Governor Ahmed. Both have denied the allegations. Saraki through his spokesman described the invitation as “part of the plan to abuse the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work”.

    From empirical material evidence disclosed by the police and the exculpatory statements of the ringleader of the robbery gang, one can safely posit that the linkage of the Senate President or the governor of Kwara State to the acts of the armed robbers who invaded Offa is tenuous. This conclusion is based on extant law and not emotion. From experience, what the police often takes as confession can hardly pass through legal scrutiny in any court. Confession is a question of law and not dictated by what the police or the Inspector General of Police would want us to take as confession. In any case, it is trite that confessions are admissible in evidence only against the persons who make them. Unless and except the Senate President or the governor admits or concurs with the alleged confessional statements made to the police, it is minutely valuable in criminal proceedings against any person other than the maker.

    Let us take a critical look at the comment of the alleged leader of the gang. Asked of their relationship with Saraki and the governor of Kwara State, he responded that they do what he called ‘Political arrangement and mobilization for them’. Further asked of the source of their weapon, he responded that it was one dismissed policeman by name Michael that provided them with weapons used. He confirmed that he was given the vehicle used in the operation by his “Excellency”. Most importantly, he said the neither the Senate President nor Kwara State governor  sent them for robbery operation but that they were political thugs to both the Senate President and the governor.

    It can be safely said that there was commission of offence of armed robbery by the persons apprehended by the Police who have openly confessed to their crimes. This is taken to be true because the most important ingredient of armed robbery is to be armed with any firearms or offensive weapon. What is yet to be known is the involvement of Saraki and the governor. If the only link between the suspect and Saraki is the statement made by the ring leader of the thugs,

    one can conclude that the police has gotten this very wrong in this case. For the Senate President and governor to be directly involved in this case, it must be shown that they knew they were robbers and that they provided them with instruments to perform their operation as robbers. The fact that cars were given out as act of political patronage to party faithful cannot by any stretch of imagination be used to ascribe culpability to the duo.

    A cursory examination of Section 7 of the Criminal Code which relating to criminal liabilities of parties to an offence is apposite at this juncture.  The following persons is deemed to have taken part in committing the offence and to be guilty of the offence: –

    1. Every person who does the act or makes the mission which constitutes the offence.
    2. Every person who does or omits to do any act for the purpose of enabling or aiding another person to commit the offence.
    3. Every person who aids another person in committing the offence.
    4. Any person who counsels or procures any other person to commit the offence.

    From the provisions of S.7(c) above, there might be temptation to link either Saraki or governor of Kwara to the offence under consideration. That has also been sufficiently cleared from the press interview of the accused. He said the car was given to him for his work as people in charge of mobilization and arrangement. The car was not given to them to be used for robbery operation.

    To understand what section 7(c) is saying, we can take a quick excursion into the Supreme Court’s decision in IYARO V. STATE. The appellant and another were charged with armed robbery. The appellant used his taxicab to facilitate the commission of the crime in that he had conveyed his passengers to what appeared to be a prearranged spot and stopped the car for no apparent reason. He gave a signal and five men emerged and robbed the ladies seated in the taxi of their valuables while the appellant sat and watched. The robbers went away when they thought they had finished the job. He signalled to the robbers, which indicated that there was still another victim. The robbers promptly returned and finished the job. He promptly took off upon a crowd forming in response to the cries of the victims. He was convicted for aiding and abetting.

    Can we say the Senate President and the Governor of Kwara State have same intention with any or all the suspects presently in police custody to commit the act they committed? The most plausive answer should be no – based on what the suspect said to journalists at their parade. The act of giving cars and other gifts can not determine the use of the said car for any purpose chosen by the person given the car.

    Those who have had dealings with the Nigerian Police as a state prosecutor or even defence counsel would not be surprised by the press statement of the force talking about confession as if lawyers do not know how those were extracted by the police. If this can happen to Senators Shehu Sani, Sulaiman Hundeyin, and Dino Melaye, all known allies and strong backers of the Senate President, the escalation to the Senate President and by extension to the Governor of Kwara State follows a predictable pattern of persecution and witchunt.

    It is my most humble suggestion that the reform of any institution in Nigeria should start with the Nigeria Police. Police prosecution and investigation should not be triggered mainly on account of political dissent. The police should not be an instrument of oppression. It is the view of the writer that the undue or unwarranted escalation of the unfortunate Offa Robbery with a view to incriminate the President of the Senate by the Police is a joke taken too far.

     

    • Majekodunmi LLM (Notre Dame) writes from Ilorin, Kwara State.

     

     

     

  • Saraki, Ekweremadu call for sustained prayers

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy yesterday congratulated Muslim faithful on the successful completion of the month-long Ramadan.

    The duo called for sustained prayers for peace in the country.

    Saraki said that in spite of Federal Government’s appreciable efforts in combating the challenge of insecurity, it is imperative for Muslims to utilise this period to pray fervently for peace and unity in the country.

    “We have just ended a month long fast thus paving way for the Eid-il-fitr celebrations. These two periods are such times that Allah enjoined us to ask for his blessings. We should therefore seize the opportunity to pray for the country and its leaders,” Saraki said.

    He said despite numerous challenges in the country, ‘’hope is not lost”, adding that, “only tolerance, stronger sense of patriotism and love for one another will help the country surmount her present socio-economic challenges.”

    Ekweremadu urged Muslims to continue to pray for the nation, especially towards the successful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    He also enjoined Muslim faithful to remain true to the teachings of Islam imbibed during the fast even after the holy month.

    He said: “I congratulate our Muslim Ummah for successfully observing the Ramadan and prayers, with its life-enriching lessons in the virtues of love, forbearance, unity, patriotism, self-sacrifice.

    “In the last one month, I observed the piety and the spirit of giving associated with the month and, therefore, urges our Muslim brothers and sisters to remain their brother’s keeper till eternity so as to make the society better for it.”

  • Saraki, Ekweremadu, Dogara, Atiku, preach sacrifice, love, others

    SENATE President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have urged Muslims to project Islam through the good examples of prayers, love, tolerance and peaceful disposition at all times.

    They congratulated Muslim faithful on the successful completion of the month-long Ramadan fast and called for sustained prayers for peace.

     

    Saraki seeks prayer for peace, unity

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, to commemorate the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations, said in spite of Federal Government’s appreciable efforts in combating the challenge of insecurity, it is imperative for Muslim faithful to utilise this period to pray fervently for peace and unity in the country.

    “We have just ended a month long fast, thus paving way for the Eid-el-fitr celebrations. These two periods are such times that the Almighty Allah enjoined us to ask for his blessings. We should therefore seize the opportunity to pray for the country and its leaders,” Saraki said.

    He called on Nigerians to use the season to promote national integration, saying: “Eid-el-fitr is a time of love and goodwill. It gives us a message to love all and hate none.”

     

    Remain true to Islamic teachings, Ekweremadu tells faithful

     

    Ekweremadu also congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the successful conclusion of the Ramadan fast, urging them to continue to pray for the nation, especially towards the successful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    He also enjoined Muslim faithful to remain true to the teachings of Islam imbibed during the fast even after the holy month.

    “I congratulate our Muslim Ummah for successfully observing the Ramadan Fast and prayers, with its life-enriching lessons in the virtues of love, forbearance, unity, patriotism, self-sacrifice.

    “In the last one month, I observed the piety and the spirit of giving associated with the month and, therefore, urge our Muslim brothers and sisters to remain their brother’s keeper till eternity so as to make the society better for it.

     

    Dogara felicitates with Muslims

    Dogara felicitated with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eid El Fitr celebration.

    Dogara, in his Sallah message, enjoined them to sustain the lessons of Ramadan and replicate same in their daily lives for a better society.

    The Ummah should not be carried away by only the pageantry of the Sallah celebration, he said.

    Instead, they should use the occasion for sober reflection and extend gestures and hands of support to the needy in the society as well as to pray against the current security and economic situation of the country.

     

    Atiku:  reinforce fear of Allah

    In a goodwill message released by his media office yesterday, to mark the end of the 30-day Ramadan fasting period, Atiku said the event should reinforce the fear of Allah in the hearts of believers.

    He urged Muslim faithful to sustain the virtues of sacrifice beyond the Ramadan period, adding that the fasting period makes believers appreciate the impact of hunger and enable them to be more committed to the hardships of millions, who cannot feed themselves.

     

     

     

  • Saraki, NASS and IGP

    IN an unprecedented move, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has initiated a legal action to quash the May 9 Senate resolution declaring him an enemy of democracy and an officer unfit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria. He predicates the action on the alleged hatred and contempt he said the Senate and Senate President Saraki harbour towards him. How he hopes to get the courts to restore his standing in the society, and particularly with the National Assembly which finds his tactics and statements deeply troubling and objectionable, remains to be seen. The IGP’s court case is aside the many bitter attempts he has made to unnerve Dr Saraki and, as the Senate alleges, to also humiliate him.

    The Senate resolution came after the IGP had twice declined the invitation of the legislature to appear before the lawmakers to shed light on both the Dino Melaye affair and widespread killings in the country for which the police appeared not to have an answer. The IGP was dead set against appearing before the legislators, ostensibly because he had prior appointments, but more substantially because he feared humiliation. He is not a man given to philosophy, nor to eloquence of any kind or appreciable degree. Having just allegedly done the bidding of the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to humiliate Senator Melaye, the IGP sensed that the enraged senators would, by hostile questions, publicly show him up as lacking coherence and depth.

    By refusing to honour the invitations, the IGP drew the ire of the Senate, which went ahead to make the angry declarations aforesaid against the police boss. In response, Mr Idris authorised the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, and the Police Force legal officer to issue what the Senate describes as provocative statements against the legislature, and particularly against Dr Saraki. And to pile on the agony, the police seized upon the ongoing investigations of some suspects involved in cult killings in Kwara State and the April 5, 2018 Offa, Kwara State, robbery incident in which 33 people lost their lives, to pin a case on Dr Saraki. The senate president has since then been embroiled in managing the allegations against his person, and seething against what he describes as a wilful and insubordinate attempt by the IGP to ridicule the legislature.

    In all this, the presidency has kept a detached and gloating silence. The Senate had troubled the presidency to no end; and since the Nigerian presidential system is in fact an imperial presidency, and because the constitution wrongly assumes the country’s weak and fearful institutions can stand up to the fearsome executive, it is not surprising that NASS has been subjected to all sorts of provocations by irreverent appointees and government supporters. Furthermore, sensing that the presidency does not appear averse to their brashness and defiance, the police have upped the ante and insisted that, as far as the Offa robbery was concerned, Dr Saraki indeed had a case to answer, a conclusion that has divided Offa people and their chiefs. The police are not struck by the paradox of asking Dr Saraki to appear before them while the IGP refuses to honour Senate invitations. In the ongoing contestation of wills, the police have in fact sensed that Nigerians seem to despise both the NASS and Dr Saraki more than they revile the police. This realisation has spurred the police on to excesses and repudiation of democratic tenets.

    No one can predict how the whole saga will end, whether it will end well for the individuals involved and for the country, or end badly. But after the tit for tat has ended, after Dr Saraki might have known his fate either within or outside the ruling party, and long after the IGP has vacated office, both officers will face the fury of life after office. In the case of the politician, if his enemies do not succeed in unhorsing him, he will continue to maintain some relevance. The same thing cannot be said of Mr Idris. Having endured ridicule over his competence and elocution in the past few months, he will find to his dismay and embarrassment that he will be shunned in polite circles and subjected to merciless lampoons in the press, particularly on social media.

  • Saraki explains links with Offa robbery suspects

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday said he had given the police the explanation on his alleged links with the Offa robbery suspects.

    Saraki said his written response to the Police was in compliance with the demand of the Police that he should put down his response in writing.within 48 hours.

    In a tweet yesterday, Saraki said he has complied with the Police demand

    The Tweet read: “Bukola Saraki @bukolasaraki-12m; In line with their request, earlier today, the Police received my response to their letter on the investigation into the Offa robbery case.”

    Efforts to obtain a copy of the response of the Senate President were not successful.

    A source close to Saraki however said that “the fact of the matter is that the response of the Senate President to the Police is now with the Police as they demanded.”

    The source said that Saraki’s response “was delivered, received and signed for by the Police.”

  • IG accuses Saraki, Senate of harbouring hatred for him

    A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has given nod to plan by the Inspector General (IG), Ibrahim Idris, to sue for an order quashing the May 9, 2015 resolution of the Senate, which described him as “an enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria”.

    In an ex-parte ruling, Justice John Tsoho granted leave to the IG to file an originating summons for judicial review of the said resolution made on May 9 this year by the Senate, for the purpose of quashing it.

    The judge ordered that processes in the suit, including the ruling, to be served on the respondents – the Senate and its President, Bukola Saraki – through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

    He said the service of the processes through the Clerk of the Senate shall be deemed proper and valid service.

    Justice Tsoho gave the ruling after IGP’s lawyer Alex Izinyon (SAN) moved the application and prayed the court to grant it.

    The proceedings yesterday were separate from a pending suit equally file by the IG, challenging the legitimacy of the Senate’s insistence that he must appear before the legislative house in person in relation to the Senate’s purported probe of the trial of its member, Dino Melaye, on criminal charges.

    Idris, in an affidavit supporting his ex-parte application that was moved yesterday, described the May 9 resolution of the Senate as “legislative judgment”.

    He argued that the conduct of the respondents, in the proceedings leading to resolution, was borne out of the “hatred and undisguised contempt” they allegedly harbour against him.

    The IG said the conduct of the Senate and its President, Saraki, during the “votes and proceedings” leading to the May 9, 2018 resolution “is palpable of bias, deep rooted prejudice, visible hatred, and undisguised contempt of me”.

    He added: “That I was informed by my lead counsel, Dr. Alex A. Izinyon, SAN, in his office at No. 1 Kinshasa Street, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja on May 20, 2018 about 5:30pm of the following facts, which I verily believe to be true:

    “That the respondents lack the competence and/or jurisdiction to impose penal sanction on me under section 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    “That the respondents act ultra vires its powers under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by imposing on me penal sanction unknown to law contained in the said gazette dated 9th May, 2018.”

    The IG added that the conduct of the respondents throughout the votes and proceedings that led to the said resolution showed “deep rooted prejudiced, visible hatred and undisguised contempt for me”.

    “That the said votes and proceedings leading to the resolution contained in the said gazette wherein sanction was imposed on me is a legislative judgment.

    “That this court has the supervisory power to quash the said resolution contained in the gazette dated May 9, 2018,” he said.

    The IG, in the originating summons, is praying the court for “order of certiorari” quashing “the entire votes and proceedings” leading to the “resolution contained in the gazette dated May 9, 2018”.

    He also prayed for the same order “quashing same the report of the Ad hoc Committee investigating the various allegations levelled against the applicant (Idris) that led to the said resolution contained in the gazette dated May 9, 2018”.

    Hearing in the case has been fixed for June 27.

     

     

     

  • Offa robbery: Saraki writes Police

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki says  he has tendered his response to the Police on the Investigation into the Offa bank robbery incident.

    Saraki said on Thursday that his written response to the Police on the robbery incident was in compliance to the demand of the Police that he should put down his response in writing.

    The Police had earlier asked Saraki to go to the Police Intelligence Team in Guzape, Abuja to state what he knows about the April 5 deadly bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State.

    On Monday Saraki Tweeted that he received a letter from the Police high command informing that he should no longer bother to go to the Police Intelligence Team but to put his response on alleged link to arrested suspects in writing.

    Saraki said that the Police gave him 48 hours to write his response.

    The 48 hours ended on Wednesday raising apprehension whether Saraki wil comply with the Police demand.

    But Saraki in a Tweet yesterday said that he has complied with the Police demand for him to put his response to the allegation in writing.

    READ ALSO: Offa robbery suspects attended Saraki daughter’s wedding – Police

    He said that the Police received his response to their letter on the investigation into the Offa robbery case.

    The Tweet read: “Bukola Saraki @bukolasaraki-12m; In line with their request, earlier today, the Police received my response to their letter on the investigation into the Offa robbery case.”

    Efforts to obtain a copy of the response of the Senate President were not successful.

    A competent source close to Saraki however said that “the fact of the matter is that the response of the Senate President to the Police is now with the Police as they demanded.”

    The source said that Saraki’s response “was delivered, received and signed for by the Police.”

    Asked to give an insight into the response, the source that since the Police did not leak their letter to Saraki, it would be uncharitable for contents of Saraki’s response to be disclosed to the press.

    The source added that “some characters even laboured to discredit the fact that the Police asked Saraki to put his response in writing.”

    “Now that the Senate President’s response has been delivered, received and signed for by the Police, who is now telling the truth?” he asked.

  • Two other Offa robbery suspects implicated Saraki – Police

    Two suspects arrested by the Nigeria Police Force have allegedly implicated Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in connection with the Offa bank robbery.

    Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, ACP Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this while giving update on the Offa bank robbery, in Abuja.

    He said the two out of the three suspects the Police was after have confessed to have committed various crimes for Senator Saraki in the state.

    The Force Spokesperson 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.

    The gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun a.k.a AY, had on Sunday named Dr. Saraki and Kwara state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, in connection with the Offa bank robbery.

    Moshood 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.

    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.”

    Moshood also said the Senate president was still under investigation in connection with the bank robbery.

    He said the Force has not withdrawn its summon issued to Dr. Saraki with regards to the bank robbery.

    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 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 Robbery where significant successes have been recorded.

    “The ongoing investigation will be driven to a logical conclusion.

    “The Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki is still under investigation in connection to the Offa bank 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 Police spokesman stated

  • Saraki versus police: Group holds procession in support of police

    •Women organise prayers

    A GROUP under the aegis of Association of Offa Indigenes Home and Abroad yesterday staged a peaceful procession in support of the police high command on the alleged indictment of Senate President Bukola Saraki by suspects in the Offa robbery incident.

    The group’s protests came a day after some youths took to the streets in Ilorin and Offa to stage peaceful rallies in in support of Saraki.

    Yesterday’s precession took off at Iyeru-Okin LEGA Primary School, through Ibrahim Taiwo Road to Idi-Ogun, via Olofa Way and terminated at Eid Praying Ground in Offa.

    The protesters passed through Owode Market and converged on palace of the Olofa of Offa.

    Spokesperson for the association Muideen Babalola said: “In whatever we do, our past has a way of catching up with us like a dodging shadow. God has answered our prayers in Offa. Our cries have been heard. The whole world has seen it all and our prayers are that ‘justice must prevail.”

    Another speaker at the event, Prince Femi Whyte, said: “In the course of the police investigation, some top politicians were mentioned to be remotely connected to the robbery incident in Offa.

    “But to our dismay and sadness these politicians mobilised some political jobbers to protest in their favour to jeopardise the ongoing investigation by the police.”

    The Asalofa of Offa, Chief Isiaka Shittu, who received the protesters on behalf of the monarch, Oba Muftau Gbaramosi, assured of conveying the message to the monarch who was not around.

    He hailed the peaceful manner with the association members comported themselves.

    Also in Ilorin, scores of women organised a special prayer, asking God to grant the Bukola Saraki victory in his present travails in the hands of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The women recited verses from the holy Qur’an and prayed fevently to God to protect the Senate President whom they described as their benefactor.

    Speaking after the prayer session, the group’s leader Hajia Ramat Oganija said they resorted to prayer because they were convinced that Saraki who they said was being implicated in the recent Offa bank robbery incident, “cannot hurt a fly “.

    She said Saraki had encouraged entrepreneurship by empowering women and youths in the state to be economically self-reliance.

    Hajia Oganija said that the news of “the invitation of our God-given leader and benefactor Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the president of the senate by the police over the recent Offa robbery attacks came to us a rude shock.

    “We were and still shocked by the development because over the years we have known our leader, Dr Bukola Saraki as a compassionate and kind-hearted man who could not hurt a fly. Our leader abhors violence in all its ramifications.”

    She added: “Just like every right-thinking individuals, we, women of Kwara State see the police latest action as nothing but a fresh plot by the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja to implicate the President of the Senate in the April 5, 2018 dastardly armed robbery attacks on banks in Offa.”

    Also, the Offspring Descendents Union (ODU) urged the police to do a thorough investigation on the Offa robbery case.

    In a statement by the National President and Secretary-General of the union Alhaji Najimdeen Usman Yasin Hajia (Chief) Mrs. Wosilat Tinuke Macarthy said: “While we do not want to prejudice the ongoing investigation by the police on this case, the community will appreciate thoroughness to ensure equity and Justice on the matter.

    She said: “Dr. Bukola Saraki, a two-term former governor of this state and the President of the Senate Of this country has always considered Offa as a second home. The Offa people are well bred citizens and are always appreciate of kind gesture and immeasurable benevolence. The community therefore holds the Senate President in high esteem however, this is not to distract or disturb the investigation by the police.

    “Considering the sensitive nature of this matter, the community will appreciate if all the social media and media outfits would validate all reports before dissemination.”