Nigeria: Saraki Accuses Kwara Government of Political Persecution After Dropping 18 Offa Robbery Charges

What the report says

Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s former Senate president, has accused the Kwara State Government of pursuing him and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for political reasons after it withdrew 18 of 20 charges tied to the 2018 Offa bank robbery case. The account, carried via Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica, says the state government dropped counts involving allegations such as armed robbery, the deaths of police officers and unlawful possession of firearms, while leaving two charges in place.

Through his media office, Saraki argued that the withdrawals showed the case had lacked strong evidence from the start. The statement also alleged that the prosecution was part of an effort by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration to damage the standing of its predecessors ahead of the 2027 general elections. Saraki’s camp said his lawyers would challenge the amended charge sheet.

The Offa robbery itself remains a serious backdrop to the dispute: the 2018 attack left at least 32 people dead, including police officers. Saraki and Ahmed have repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and the report says Saraki has long maintained that earlier federal investigations did not link him to the incident. More broadly, the case illustrates how major criminal proceedings can become entangled with Nigeria’s political rivalries, especially when elections approach.