Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Friday dismissed claims linking him to the 2018 Offa robbery, describing the allegations as unfounded and politically driven.
In a statement, Saraki said he was reacting to renewed efforts, which he attributed to Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to revive the issue.
“I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter whatsoever,” he said.
The former lawmaker alleged that the Offa robbery case was initially used during the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as a political strategy to undermine him ahead of the 2019 general elections.
He maintained that investigations carried out at the time did not establish any connection between him and the crime.
Saraki cited legal advice issued in 2018 by the Director of Public Prosecution in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which he said absolved him of any wrongdoing.
“For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects,” he quoted from one of the reports.
He added that a subsequent opinion also found no prima facie case against him.
According to Saraki, prosecutions in the case were based on those findings, leading to convictions that were upheld on appeal, with the matter currently before the Supreme Court.
He, however, accused the Kwara State governor of attempting to reopen settled issues following his recent remarks on insecurity in the state.
Describing the move as “frivolous” and an abuse of court process, Saraki said his legal team would challenge any fresh action.
“I am under no illusion that this case is a frivolous move designed to embarrass my person,” he stated.
Saraki also alleged that there were attempts to pressure victims’ families into instituting civil proceedings against him, but said such efforts did not succeed.
He warned that such actions could undermine the integrity of the state’s political system.
“A sitting governor accusing his predecessors of armed robbery only makes a mockery of the institution,” he added.
