The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of allegedly attempting to reopen the long-settled Offa robbery case for political purposes, claiming it is a deliberate move to “blackmail and tarnish” the image of former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday at the PDP Secretariat in Ilorin, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, said the reported attempt to revisit the case amounted to “a despicable reawakening of a tragic incident already settled by competent courts.”
He said the party was alarmed by what it described as media reports suggesting renewed efforts to implicate Saraki in the 2018 Offa robbery incident.
“We address you today with a deep sense of concern over a disturbing development that strikes at the very core of justice, humanity and responsible governance,” Adewara said.
He alleged that the move was politically motivated, claiming it reflected desperation within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“It is evident that Governor Abdulrazaq is overwhelmed and has lost grip of leadership within the APC in Kwara State, where his authority has significantly diminished,” he stated.
Adewara also linked the controversy to what he described as the rising popularity of the PDP in the state, insisting that recent political rallies showed the party was gaining renewed public confidence.
He further argued that recent public comments credited to Saraki, where he allegedly spoke on insecurity, had unsettled the state government.
According to him, “This renewed campaign of blackmail comes shortly after Dr. Saraki’s appearance on Channels Television, where he courageously exposed the alarming insecurity, killings, and takeover of rural communities in Kwara North and Kwara South.”
The PDP spokesman maintained that the Offa robbery case had already been conclusively determined by security agencies and the judiciary.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Offa robbery case was thoroughly investigated by the Nigerian Police,” he said.
He referenced legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), stating that no link was established between Saraki and the incident.
Quoting the DPP, Adewara said: “This office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects.”
He added another excerpt: “There is no prima facie case against Senator Bukola Saraki for offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide.”
He stressed that convictions in the case had already been handled up to the appellate level, while the matter is currently before the Supreme Court.
The PDP urged Governor Abdulrazaq to stop what it called “selective narration of facts” and challenged him to release the full legal records for public scrutiny.
The party also called on security agencies, including the Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kwara State, to monitor what it described as attempts to create tension.
“We hereby place security agencies on notice. The governor’s actions appear capable of generating unnecessary tension and disorder,” Adewara said.
He appealed to residents of Offa, especially families affected by the robbery incident, not to allow the tragedy to be used for political gains.
The statement was signed by Olusegun Olusola Adewara, State Publicity Secretary, PDP Kwara State.
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