By Sadiq Umar – President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki has been invited by the Police to answer to allegations levelled against him by some suspected gang leaders recently arrested in connection with the Offa Bank robbery.
The Police on Sunday advised Mr. Saraki to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team at Guzape, Abuja.
It also said the governor of Kwara state, Abdulfatah Ahmed was mentioned in a confessional statement as providing fund for the gang.
According to the Police Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, who spoke while parading the suspected criminals in Abuja on Sunday, the Police is set to investigate Mr. Saraki’s alleged involvement.
“The Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki is being invited by the Nigeria Police Force to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja to answer to the allegations levelled against him from the confessions of the five gang leaders, the Police said.
It named the suspected gang to include: “Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other 17 suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa Bank Robbery and the gruesome killing of 33 innocent persons which includes (some pregnant women and nine police personnel.” Mr. Moshood said.
Mr. Moshood said at least five of the suspects arrested in the robbery “admitted and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles” by Mr Saraki and the state governor.
“The Nigeria Police Force will continue to ensure that the rule of law prevails in every case under Police investigation and every offender is brought to justice,” he added.
On April 5, some armed robbers attacked five commercial banks in Offa Kwara State, killing at least 17 persons, including police officers.
In May, Mr. Saraki raised an alarm alleging a clandestine plan by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, of planning to frame him by altering statements of the arrested suspects to implicate him.
He told his colleagues at the Senate plenary that the information was passed to him by the state governor of Kwara, Mr. Abdulfatah.
The Senate had set up an adhoc committee to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter.
