The Kwara State Government has moved to drastically reduce the criminal charges against former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over the 2018 Offa bank robbery, seeking to replace the original 20-count charge with just four counts.
The prosecution has filed an application before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, asking for permission to amend the charges against Saraki, Ahmed and two other defendants.
The development marks a significant shift in the prosecution’s case, which has been linked to the deadly robbery that rocked Offa, a town in Kwara State, in April 2018.
The attack, which targeted several banks, left dozens of people dead, including police officers, and triggered widespread outrage across the country.
The amended charge, if approved by the court, would reduce the number of counts from 20 to four.
The move has drawn attention because of the high-profile nature of the defendants, particularly Saraki, who served as Senate President between 2015 and 2019, and Ahmed, who governed Kwara State from 2011 to 2019.
The Offa robbery case has remained one of the most closely watched criminal proceedings in the state, attracting considerable political and public interest.
The court is expected to consider the prosecution’s application before determining whether the proposed amendment can proceed.
