Against the backdrop of the legal advice given to the Inspector general of Police by the office of Attorney General of the Federation, that Senate President, Bukola Saraki could not be linked with the Offa banks robbery incident in which 31 people were killed, the Police High Command has insisted that Dr. Bukola Saraki has a case to answer.
The Police said its position is based on the fact that the advice by the Director of Public Prosecution did not exonerate the Senate President; it only called for further investigation into the banks robbery and killings.
The Police authorities noted that earlier statements submitted by the Senate President to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), were not explicit, detailed, needed clarification and interrogation of Senator Saraki as a person.
A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood said, “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to publication on Online Media publication noting that “there was no evidence that linked Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to the Armed Robbery attack that left 31 persons dead in Offa, Kwara State, in April, Premium Times can now confirm”
“It is incumbent on the Force to educate the writer of the story that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federation in the legal advice did not restrain or restrict the Force from investigating further, the indictments against the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed by the principal suspects arrested in connection with the Offa bank robbery of 5th April, 2018.
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“The DPP advice did not exonerate the Senate President, it only called for further investigations into the matter.
“It is in the course of further investigations into the case that a letter of invitation dated 23rd July, 2018 was sent to the Senate President to appear on 24th July, 2018 at 8am before the Investigation Team at Intelligence Response Team office, Guzape Junction, Abuja.
“Consequently, the Force is hereby re-affirming that the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has case to answer by virtue of the facts that the statements submitted by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki earlier to the Investigation Team were not explicit and detailed enough, and was discovered to require further clarifications and interrogation.
The Police said this is coupled with the fact the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki in his statement, claimed that the full text of the statement of the suspects who indicted him in their confessional statements to the Police was not shown to him.
“It is therefore, imperative for the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to report to the Police to make further statement after sighting the full text of the statement of the suspects.
“Furthermore, the Force wishes to inform the media and the public that investigation is still ongoing on the Offa bank robbery and the indictment against the Senate President from the confessions of some the arrested principal suspects, and that, there is no political influence or consideration in the matter.
“The media and the Police are veritable partners in crime prevention, protection of lives and property, and absolute compliance with the rule of law.
“The media are implored not to allow the pages of their esteemed publications be used to misinform the public” the statement added.
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