Kwara files 20-count charge against Bukola Saraki, Abdulfatai Ahmed over Offa robbery

The Kwara State Government has filed a 20-count criminal charge against former Senate President Bukola Saraki and ex-governor Abdulfatai Ahmed over their alleged involvement in the 2018 Offa armed robbery.

Also named in the charge are Ahmed’s former Chief of Staff, Yusuf Abdulwahab, and an aide, Alabi Olalekan. Prosecutors allege that the defendants were involved in arming suspects later convicted for the deadly robbery, which targeted multiple banks in Offa, Kwara State.

The case, filed by the state’s Attorney-General, Ibrahim Sulyman, is built on charges including criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. If convicted, the defendants could face the death penalty under Nigerian law.

The development follows a Court of Appeal judgment upholding the convictions of key robbery suspects, including Ayo Akinnibosun. During the trial, Akinnibosun reportedly linked himself to Saraki’s political network, claiming he acted as a hitman and received support from political figures.

The charges reference the April 5, 2018, attack on several banks, including branches of Guaranty Trust Bank, First Bank, Ecobank, Union Bank, and Zenith Bank. The robbery led to multiple deaths, including security personnel.

According to court documents, the prosecution alleges that weapons used in the attack were supplied through political associates, with some items and vehicles reportedly traced back to government premises at the time.

Trial set for June as prosecution leans on prior convictions

The defendants are expected to be arraigned before Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on June 4, 2026. The charges were filed on April 9 and are scheduled to be served shortly.

Part of the prosecution’s case relies on statements and evidence presented during earlier trials. Akinnibosun, now a convicted robber, had claimed that Yusuf Abdulwahab provided weapons in his possession. He also alleged that he and others operated as political thugs under the patronage of Saraki and Ahmed.

In his testimony, Akinnibosun said he received financial support and a vehicle allegedly linked to Saraki. He further claimed that members of his group were armed and coordinated within Kwara Central.

The defence is expected to challenge the admissibility and credibility of such claims, especially given Saraki’s previous denial of any relationship with Akinnibosun. However, the prosecution appears to be building its case around corroborated evidence and links established during earlier proceedings.

The Offa robbery remains one of Nigeria’s most high-profile criminal cases in recent years, and the fresh charges signal a significant escalation, extending legal scrutiny to top political figures years after the incident.

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