The Kwara state government has filed an application seeking to amend the 20-count criminal charge against Bukola Saraki, former senate president, and Abdulfatah Ahmed, ex-governor of the state, over the 2018 Offa robbery incident.
The prosecution is asking the Kwara state high court in Ilorin for permission to proceed with an amended four-count charge against the former governors and two other defendants.
The amended charge, dated November 6, 2026, retains two allegations from the previous 20-counts bordering on conspiracy to belong to a gang of thieves and belonging to a gang of thieves, while introducing two additional counts relating to the alleged concealment of a Lexus RX Jeep bearing the inscription ‘SARAKI’ as its plate number.
The other defendants are Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former chief of staff to Ahmed, and Alabi Olalekan, another former aide to the ex-governor.
In the first count, the prosecution accused the four defendants and five individuals already convicted of the robbery of conspiring to belong to a gang of thieves on April 5, 2018, in Ilorin, Kwara state.
The second count accuses the same nine individuals of belonging to a gang of thieves, contrary to section 306 of the penal code of Kwara State, 2006.
In the third count, the prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired to cause the disappearance or concealment of a Lexus RX Jeep bearing the inscription ‘SARAKI’ as its plate number.
It alleged that the defendants knew or had reason to believe that the vehicle was used for an illegal purpose during the armed robbery incident in Offa. The offence is punishable under section 97 of the penal code.
The fourth count accuses Saraki, Ahmed, Abdulwahab and Olalekan of causing the disappearance or concealment of the same vehicle, contrary to section 167 of the penal code.
The five convicted individuals named in the first three counts are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawu Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.
In the amended charge, the state government dropped allegations relating to armed robbery, causing the deaths of police officers and illegal possession of firearms contained in the original charge.
The original 20-count charge was filed on April 9, 2026.
In the motion on notice filed on November 6, the prosecution said an official briefing on the matter necessitated the move to introduce two additional counts in place of the original 20.
According to the prosecution, the defendants are yet to enter their pleas and the trial has not commenced.
“The defendants/respondents are yet to take their pleas and hearing/trial is yet to commence,” the motion reads.
The prosecution also argued that the evidence already attached to the original charge sheet could sustain the proposed amended charges.
It prayed the court to grant the application, arguing that the defendants would not suffer any prejudice from the amendment.
Reacting to the development, Saraki’s media office described the withdrawal of the 18 counts as an admission that the original allegations against the former senate president and Ahmed were unfounded.
In a statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, the media office accused the Kwara state government of abusing the judicial process and attempting to use the Offa robbery case to discredit the two former governors.
The statement noted that the dropped allegations were evidence that “there was no case against these gentlemen from the beginning”.
Saraki’s media office also questioned the decision to introduce the criminal proceedings against the former governors, alleging that the case was politically motivated.
It described the amended charges as “a further attempt to abuse the judicial process”.
The statement further alleged that the Kwara government had spent close to N100 million publicising its original allegations against the former governors through advertisements in national newspapers.
Saraki’s media office, however, said the former senate president would contest the amended charges.
“Even these newly filed charges will be contested and at the end of the day the public will see that all attempts to demonise, persecute, and blackmail Dr. Saraki will fail,” the statement said.
It will be recalled that on April 5, 2018, multiple banks were raided and a police station attacked in Offa, a town in Kwara state, resulting in 33 fatalities, including a pregnant woman and 12 police officers.
In September 2024, a high court in Kwara found the five defendants guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide.
The defendants are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.
In January, the court of appeal upheld the conviction and sentence of the five convicts.
Few days after the robbery incident, the police invited Saraki and alleged that Akinnibosun, the kingpin, claimed that the gang members were Saraki’s political thugs.
The police also alleged that Akinnibosun claimed that he got vehicles and monetary gifts from Saraki through Abdulwahab.
Speaking during the parade of suspects, Akinnibosun told journalists that his group had been working for Saraki since he was governor.
The gang leader also told journalists that Saraki was not aware of their involvement in the armed robbery.
During a court hearing in March 2019, Akinnibosun alleged that Abba Kyari, then deputy commissioner of police, asked him and the other accused persons to implicate Saraki and that he was threatened to make confessional statements.
Saraki has since denied any form of connection with the armed robbery suspects.
Saraki governed Kwara between 2003 and 2011. He served as Senate President from 2015 to 2019.
Ahmed became Kwara governor after the tenure of Saraki in 2011 and served till 2019.
