Appeal Court Clears Way for Fresh Offa Robbery Trial

Stories by Steve Aya
 

The Court of Appeal has rejected applications by former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, seeking to stop proceedings in the fresh Offa robbery case before the Kwara State High Court.

 The appellate court, sitting in Ilorin, held that the pending appeals did not provide sufficient grounds to suspend the criminal proceedings.

 The applications followed a fresh 20-count charge filed by the Kwara State Government against Saraki, Ahmed and two other Defendants over the deadly robbery in Offa on April 5, 2018. The Defendants are facing allegations, bordering on criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

 They had approached the appellate court, seeking an order restraining the trial court from proceeding with the case, until their appeals were determined. However, the prosecution opposed the applications, arguing that the appeals should not be used to frustrate the criminal proceedings.

 In its decision, the Court of Appeal refused the requests for a stay of proceedings, but granted the Appellants four days to file their reply briefs. The decision allows the Kwara State High Court to continue hearing the case, while the appeals are being considered.

 The 2018 robbery resulted in the deaths of several people, including Police officers. Five principal suspects were convicted in 2024, with their convictions subsequently, upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Saraki, Ahmed and the other Defendants in the fresh prosecution have not been convicted in the case, and remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.