Let Officers Who Need Information On Offa Robbery Come To My Office – Saraki Replies IGP

Saraki Goes Tough On Police Over Offa Bank Robbery Links

Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on Ibrahim Idris, Inspector-general of Police to send his personnel to his office if he needs further statement on the robbery where five banks were raided and about 31 people lost their lives in Offa, Kwara State in April.

Recall Monday night, Idris asked Saraki to report to the office of the intelligence response team (IRT) over the robbery incident.

Saraki was alleged to have been named as a sponsor by the suspects

But in a letter dated July 24 and addressed to the IGP, Saraki said President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that if the police wanted additional information, they could either to send police personnel to him or get a written response from him.

He explained that Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, was also prevented from leaving his residence, and if he Saraki had honoured the invitation, their absence would have “voided the sitting of the senate”.

“For the record, I should mention that I received your letter at 8:30 pm on Monday 23rd July, 2018, inviting me for the next day at 8am. The two lawyers whose advise I needed were in Calabar and Lagos and have to travel to Abuja today,” the letter read.

“As your are aware, the deputy president of the senate was on unable to leave his residence this morning to preside over the senate having been prevented from doing so by security agents. If he had been able to preside over the senate, I would have honoured your invitation.

“The absence of both presiding officers would have voided the sitting of the senate. This would have been damaging to national interest, particularly in the light of very important legislative matters that needed to be be addressed in view of the imminent recess of the national assembly.

“These included consideration of the electoral bill which was incidentally passed today. You will recall that Mr President had earlier directed as a courtesy to this office that in the event of any request for further information from me, you should either send your personnel to my office or obtain a written response from me.

“I need to place on record as well, that following the incident of being harassed and threatened at my residence by the police early this morning, I’m deeply concerned over my physical security. I request you therefore, to please assign your personnel who need information on this matter to meet me in my office immediately after plenary, today or tomorrow or at any other day at your convenience.”