Kwara files criminal charges against Saraki, Abdulfatah Ahmed over Offa robbery incident

The Kwara state government has filed a 20-count charge against Bukola Saraki, the former senate president, and Abdulfatah Ahmed, former governor of the state, over allegations of arming suspects convicted of robbery in Offa.

Other defendants in the case are Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former chief of staff to Ahmed, and Alabi Olalekan, another aide.

The charges were filed at the Kwara state high court in Ilorin, on April 9, 2026. “That you OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI, ABDULFATAH AHMED, YUSUF ABDULWAHAB, ALABI OLALEKAN, AYOADE AKINNIBOSUN (now a convict), IBIKUNLE OGUNLEYE (now a convict), ADEOLA ABRAHAM (now a convict), SALAWU AZEEZ (now a convict) and NIYI OGUNDIRAN (now a convict) on or about the 5th day of April, 2018 at Offa, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to do an illegal act to wit; committed armed robbery at the premises of Guarantee Trust Bank Plc, Offa branch, First Bank of Nigeria Plc Offa branch, Eco Bank Offa branch and Union Bank Plc Offa branch and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act. CAP R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Punishable under Section 1(2) of the same Act,” the charge sheet reads.

“That you OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI, ABDULFATAH AHMED, YUSUF ABDULWAHAB, ALABI OLALEKAN, AYOADE AKINNIBOSUN (now a convict), IBIKUNLE OGUNLEYE (now a convict), ADEOLA ABRAHAM (now a convict), SALAWU AZEEZ (now a convict) and NIYI OGUNDIRAN (now a convict) on or about the 5th day of April, 2018 at Offa, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while armed with guns and explosives robbed the staff and premises of Zenith Bank Plc Offa branch and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act. CAP R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

BACKGROUND

On April 5, 2018, multiple banks were raided and a police station was attacked in Offa, a town in Kwara state, resulting in 33 fatalities, including a pregnant woman and 12 police officers.