2018 Offa Robbery: Kwara govt files new 20-count charges against Saraki, ex-gov Ahmed

The Kwara State Government has filed a fresh legal action against former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, reopening public attention on the tragic 2018 Offa bank robbery that left several people dead and shocked the state.

In the new case, authorities have brought a 20-count charge against the two prominent political figures, including allegations of culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy linked to the violent incident.

Also named in the suit are Yusuf Abdulwahab, who served as Chief of Staff to the former governor, and Alabi Olalekan, a former aide. The charges suggest they were also connected in various ways to the events being investigated.

The legal action, marked with charge number KWS/114C/26, is set to be heard before Hon. Justice Haleemah Salman at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. The court has scheduled the formal arraignment for Wednesday, June 4, 2026.

This development follows years of controversy surrounding the bloody heist that claimed numerous lives in Offa.

The state now alleges that the former leaders and their assistants played a role in arming and sponsoring the individuals who carried out the deadly operation.

Central to the prosecution’s case is the testimony of Ayo Akinnibosun, one of the primary convicts already sentenced for the robbery. Akinnibosun previously described himself as a “hit man” within Saraki’s political network. In his statements, he claimed that Yusuf Abdulwahab provided him with two AK-47 rifles just days before a political congress.

He further alleged that he was given a Toyota Lexus 300 Jeep, which notably carried Saraki’s personalized number plate, along with cash meant for political “empowerment.”

The convict further detailed how he led a team of political thugs who worked for the interests of both Saraki and Ahmed. According to his account, he and his group even provided security for Saraki during a condolence visit to Offa shortly after the robbery had occurred.

These claims are bolstered by the 2018 recovery of vehicles and other criminal exhibits from the Kwara State Government House and a specific government ministry, which the state argues links the administration to the perpetrators.

Dr. Saraki has remained firm in his defense, repeatedly stating that the allegations are entirely baseless. He has characterized the trial as a “political witch-hunt” designed to damage his reputation and end his career in public service.

Despite his denials, the state is moving forward with the trial after the Court of Appeal recently upheld the convictions of the actual robbers, clearing the way for this high-profile expansion of the case.