Offa Robbery Case: APC Says Issue Is Strictly Legal Matter, Dismisses PDP Allegations

The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the 2018 Offa robbery case involving former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, as purely a legal matter that should be determined by the courts.

The party also dismissed allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which accused the state government of targeting Saraki for political reasons, insisting that such claims were unfounded.

The reaction followed a statement issued by the PDP on Friday, in which the opposition party alleged that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was attempting to reopen a concluded case for political purposes. 

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Saturday, the APC Publicity Secretary, Abdulwaheed Babatunde, said the PDP’s position was “melodramatic” and an attempt to avoid accountability.

“Neither Saraki nor the PDP needs to lose sleep if their hands are clean. The court deals with evidence and facts, not emotional statements aimed at rewriting history,” Babatunde said.

He stressed that no individual was above the law, adding that Saraki should allow the judicial process to run its course rather than engage in media exchanges.

“Senator Saraki’s denial is laughable and does not align with the weight of evidence already in the public domain. The testimonies available contradict his claims, but we leave the court to determine the truth when proceedings begin,” he added.

The ruling party maintained that pursuing the case was a lawful step aimed at ensuring justice for victims of the Offa robbery incident, which claimed several lives in 2018.

“It is the sacred duty of government to ensure that anyone with questions to answer faces the law. The court remains the proper place to establish guilt or innocence,” Babatunde stated.

The APC further accused the PDP of politicising the matter, arguing that the AbdulRazaq administration remained focused on governance and development.

“While the PDP is busy issuing statements, the government is building schools, constructing roads, upgrading healthcare centres, and ensuring prompt payment of salaries and pensions,” he said.

He advised Saraki to defend himself in court if formally charged, reiterating that justice would only be determined through due legal processes.