It was reliably gathered that the Senate President Bukola Saraki is not free yet.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) said there was nowhere Saraki was cleared in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) rendered on the interim report of investigation submitted for the DPP’s advice by the police, as being claimed.
READ ALSO: LAUTECH: ASUU invades Oyo, Osun states in mass protests
They stated that instead, the DPP, having analysed the interim report of investigation by the police, suggested areas of further investigation as regard claims by some of those being held over the crime, particularly as it relates to the source of the weapons used and where the operation was plotted.
The AGF, the IGP and the NPF noted that pursuant to the advice by the DPP, further investigation has been conducted, following which a more detailed investigation report has since been submitted to the DPP for his further opinion.
They said it was premature for anyone to claim that Saraki had been exonerated as “investigation is still ongoing on the caseâ€. They denied the claim that the decision to question Saraki over the case was political and intended to blackmail him and dent his reputation.
They said the information linking Saraki to the case was provided by some individuals arrested in relation to the case, who claim to be political thugs to the Senate President.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Court grants Premium Times journalist, Samuel Ogundipe bail
The IGP added: “One of the suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, confessed to being a political thug to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed. The said Ayoade Akinibosun equally stated that some of the arms and ammunition used in the armed robbery operation were procured by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed.
“Based on the statement of Ayoade Akinnibosun, the Senate President was invited to make statement to respond to the allegations and he eventually made a statement to the Police. After initial investigation, the police forwarded the case file to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the DPP rendered a legal advice in which it was concluded that some of the suspects have cases of armed robbery and unlawful possession of Firearms to answer.
“As regards the Senate President, the DPP’s legal advice states in paragraph f as follows ‘for the Senate President—this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects, Hence, it is our advice that further and thorough investigation in this regard be carried out.’
READ ALSO: BURSTED!!! Groom Arrested on wedding day for Fraud
“The DPP’s advice, in same paragraph f, states that the areas to be covered include, but not limited to the following: (i) establish whether the planning and the execution of the robbery attack of 5th of April 2018 at Offa were carried out at their instance, knowledge and approval, (ii) whether the weapons used for the robbery attack aforementioned were supplied by either the Senate President, Bukola Saraki or the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatai Ahmed Maigida (iii) any other area or areas that may assist in establishing a prima facie case of aiding and abetting crime or accessory after the fact.
“Based on the advice of the DPP and after more investigations, the Senate President was invited again to make statement and he made another statement and the case file was duplicated and forwarded back to the Attorney-General of the Federation for advice. As soon as the advice of the DPP is out, anybody indicted will be charged to court as required by law,†the IGP said.
www.sojworld.com © August 17, 2018
Leave a Reply