OJAOMONEWS.COM

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has faulted the Police claims that he has been indicted by some suspects arrested in connection with the April 2018 Offa bank robberies in which 30 persons were killed.

In a press release signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President mainteined that there is no how he could have been involved in armed robbery against his own people.

See the press release:

“The attention of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has been drawn to a story circulating online and apparently derived from a Press Conference addressed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moshood Jimoh, linking him (Saraki) to the Offa robbery.

“Dr. Saraki will want the entire public to disregard this claim as a baseless allegation and another ploy by the Police to implicate him by all means.

“Let it be known that there is no way I could have been associated with armed robbery against my people.

“When the Offa robbery incident happened, I was the first top public official to pay a visit to the place and right there in the palace of the traditional ruler, I put a call through to this same Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the IGP, requesting him to make certain specific security arrangements as demanded by the people.

“Members of the public will remember that on May 16, 2018, I alerted the Senate about the information passed on to me by my State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed, over a plot by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to frame me up by getting some suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin to implicate me. It is believed that the timely leakage of the plot in that case aborted the use of the suspected cultists to implicate me. Now, it is the Offa bank robbery suspects that are about to be used.

“This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IGP, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the National Assembly, headed me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.

“Like the earlier one, this frame-up will also fail as I hereby state categorically that I have no link with any band of criminals.

“As a person who has utmost respect for the rule of law and all constitutional institutions, when the invitation from the Police is formally extended to me, I will be ready to honour it without any delay.

“It is however sad that this abuse of the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work, is a big threat to our democracy “, the Senate President stated

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his deputy were, on Wednesday, presented their certificates of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission at INEC office, Asaba, Delta State.

The certificate was presented to Okowa and his deputy, Kingsley Otuaro, by the National Commissioner of INEC, Dr. Mohammed Lecky, at INEC office on Wednesday.

INEC had, on Monday, March 11, declared Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the 2019 election, Ifeanyi Okowa, winner.

Mohammed noted that Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides for the issuance of certificate of return to elected candidates by the INEC; saying that, “by this event, the Commission has complied with the requirement of law in this regard.”

Speaking at the event, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa sympathised with the family of those who lost their lives during the exercise, describing it as “unnecessary.”

He thanked Deltans, INEC, security agencies and all those who played different roles during the elections, observing that the election was adjudged as very peaceful in Delta State.

He called on all Deltans to actively participate in governance in the next four years starting from May 29, stating, “we cannot do the job alone, with collaborative efforts, partnership, the job will be easier and to the satisfaction of all.”

As for INEC, you should stay committed to growing our democracy. I believe Nigeria can be great if all Nigerians stay committed.

“There is room for growth in our democracy, we must conduct elections in such a manner that will be appreciated by the world as such will boost the confidence of the people and attract investors to our country, politicians should realise that election is noble and should go out and campaign for votes and ensure that elections are devoid of avoidable deaths” he said.