Offa robbery: Saraki’s aide defends convicted robbers, says they’re innocent
• Kwara PDP members hint on appealing court judgment
The verdict of the Kwara State High Court on Thursday sentencing the five suspects of the 2018 Offa Robbery that claimed many lives in Offa Local Government Area, to death has unsettled the political camp of Dr Bukola Saraki.
Some of the former senate president’s followers and media aides have taken to different social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, to express their dissatisfaction over the judgement of the court.
Previously six before one died in custody; the Offa robbery suspects were linked to Bukola Saraki, according to a PremiumTimes report on June 6, 2018. The news platform reported that one of the suspects was spotted at Mr Saraki’s daughter’s wedding ceremony.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over the verdict, Tajudeen Gboyega Alabi, an Offa-born Special Assistant to Bukola Saraki, on Security Matters, wrote on his Facebook that the five suspects sentenced to death by the Kwara State High Court, were innocent of the offences.
Another Sarakite, a Mr Saraki’s ardent follower called Folorunso Abdulrasheed said the convicted five knew nothing about the unfortunate incident and that the news about their conviction was to distract Kwarans. They will appeal.
Mubaraq Fatimah faulted the judgment saying they were sentenced to death by hanging because one of them was a Sarakite. She added that she was happy because their lawyer said the judgment would be appealed.
Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court found the five suspects involved in the Offa robbery incidents guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide. The judge said the offences are punishable by death.
The judgement lasted three and half hours and Justice Salman said all evidence submitted by the prosecuting team found the suspects guilty of the offences. The judgement came six years after the terrible incident, but many have said the court’s verdict is well delivered.
