By Sadiq Umar – The Nigerian Police on Thursday insisted that the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki has a case to answer in the Offa robbery case, saying the legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) did not exonerate him.
The police maintained that Mr. Saraki is to be further questioned by virtue of the facts that the statements earlier submitted by him to the Investigation Team which it said requires further detail.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshhod, “the Force re-affirmed its position adding that the Senate President has case to answer by virtue of the facts that the statements submitted earlier to the Investigation Team “was not explicit and detailed enough, and was discovered to require further clarifications and interrogation.”
Referring to a media publication which reported that Mr. Saraki had been exonerated by the DPP in a letter by Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the police was not restrained or restricted by the letter.
“It is incumbent on the Force to educate the writer of the story that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federation in the legal advice did not restrain or restrict the Force from investigating further, the indictments against the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed by the principal suspects arrested in connection with the Offa bank robbery of 5th April, 2018,” it said.
Adding that, “the DPP advice did not exonerate the Senate President, it only called for further investigations into the matter.
“And coupled with the fact the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki in his statement, claimed that the full text of the statement of the suspects who indicted him in their confessional statements to the Police was not shown to him. It is therefore, imperative for the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki to report to the Police to make further statement after sighting the full text of the statement of the suspects.
“Furthermore, the Force wishes to inform the media and the public that investigation is still ongoing on the Offa bank robbery and the indictment against the Senate President from the confessions of some the arrested principal suspects, and that, there is no political influence or consideration in the matter.
“The media and the Police are veritable partners in crime prevention, protection of lives and property, and absolute compliance with the rule of law. The media are implored not to allow the pages of their esteemed publications be used to misinform the public,” it added.
