The Centre for Anti-corruption and Open Leadership, (CACOL) has frowned at the reported exoneration of the Senate President Bukola Saraki from last April’s armed robbery attack in Offa , Kwara State by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.
CACOL’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran, in a release signed by its Media and Publication Officer, Ikenna Aghagbobi, dismissed the position of the AGF on the controversial case.
Malami had advised the police to drop all charges against the Senate President and the Governor of Kwara State Abdulfatah Ahmed over the Offa robbery case on the ground that the evidence against them was not substantial.
The Attorney General’s Office also suggested that only six prime suspects should be charged to court for armed robbery and murder.
The CACOL boss further stated that: “The Attorney -General is neither an investigator nor a Judge thus, he is not in the position to clear the Senate President’s name when authorities charged with the responsibility of investigation and conviction have not done so. It is surprising how a senior government officer who should know better keeps committing blunders every now and then. Armed robbery and murder are very serious crimes that cannot be said to be over until the case is concluded in court”.
Adeniran also pointed out that: “If the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor are truly innocent and were not directly or indirectly involved in the robbery incident, it is imperative that they defend themselves in court in view of the confessional statements of the arrested suspects.
“The law should be allowed to take its course and it must be ensured that diligent investigations have been carried out, and judgment delivered by a court before any suspected person is declared innocent or otherwise as this will not only eliminate any iota of doubt but also strengthen our faith in the judicial system. “
By Gboyega Adeoye
