Offa Bank robbery: Saraki vindicated as five suspects sentenced to death by hanging
The Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, has convicted five suspects arrested in connection with the Offa Bank robbery incident of 2018 to death by hanging.
The judgement was delivered on Thursday September 26th, 2024. This news serves as a relief to Kwarans, especially the people of Offa — as the armed robbers embarked on a killing spree, sending shock waves across the entire country.
Worthy of note is the politicisation of the unfortunate incident by unscrupulous political actors, alleging the President of the 8th Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the mastermind of the robbery. Today’s ruling could be described as a relief to his supporters, who have consistently sought justice for the victims while distancing themselves from the politicization of this tragic event. Which is a disaster to all and sundry!
It is crucial for the people of Offa to remain vigilant against individuals who have refused to desist from linking Saraki as the mastermind of the unfortunate incident, despite suspects recanting their coerced statements obtained through torture by a drug kingpin and former police officer.
Recall that the dismissed ACP Abba Kyari was reported to have forced a confession out of the perpetrators in an attempt to indict the former President of the 8th Senate. We are glad that the incident has now been laid to rest and justice has been served.
One of the suspects, Mr Akininibosin in narrating how disgraced ACP Abba Kyari attempted to force a statement from him stated that “My hands and legs were tied to the back and suspended in between two tables by iron rod for like one hour 30 minutes. Then the senior police officer, Abba Kyari, came around to tell me that I should say that it was Dr.Abubakar Bukola Saraki that gave us guns to rob Offa banks.”
This once again reflects the rot in our police system, the brutality employed by detractors and opposing actors, and we are pleased that nemesis caught up with the former ACP, who went from grace to grass.
Once again, we are particularly happy about the judgement by the Court, and remain with the people of Offa, while offering prayers to the families of the victims. This judgement does not restore the damage the incident did to the former President of Senate nor bring back the dead, whose lives were wasted. However, we hope political actors will exercise caution and prioritise pursuit for justice above political gains and propaganda. While also charging the former Senate President to pursue legal actions against state-sponsored elements still labelling him as the mastermind of the horroful incident.
This moment brings back a tortuous memory of the incident, and even while unsuccessful attempts were made to force a link for political reasons, we remain with people of Offa in this moment, as we were in 2018. We congratulate HRM, Olofa of Offa on this judgement, we congratulate Offa Descendant Union, and all sons and Daughters of Offa on this judgement, and pray against such reoccurrence.
Today, we are extremely happy with the judgement of the Court, and once again reassured that no matter how long, justice shall always trump evil.
Signed:
Sulaiman Onimago
PDP VANGUARD
Director, Communications and Strategies