A forum, under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Continuity Mandate Group, in Kwara State, has advised the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, to go to court to clear his name instead of resorting to media propaganda to defend himself amid the fresh charges slammed on him by the state government over the 2018 Offa bloody bank robbery.
The group, comprising eminent politicians, in a statement signed by the former Chairman of the Ilorin East Local Government Area, Alhaji Usman Bibire Ajape, former Minister of Sports, Hon. Issa Bio Ibrahim and Engr Jimoh Alao.
It advised Saraki to prepare himself for the court proceedings to clear his name instead of dissipating energy on an unnecessary media campaign.
It noted that there is merit in the charges filed against Saraki, noting that the onus to clear Saraki rests squarely on the court and not the media.
The APC Continuity Mandate Group hailed the state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for mustering the courage to file the charges against Saraki and former Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed.
It reasoned that, “this courageous step of Governor AbdulRazaq will ensure justice for the families of the victims of the bloody Offa bank robbery and serve as a deterrent to political office holders who think they are above the law when in power.
“This group of eminent politicians and community leaders want to say unequivocally that Governor AbdulRazaq has taken the right step in pressing charges against Dr Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on the 2018 Offa bank robbery.
“While we noticed the sentiment being expressed by some people on the timing of filing the charges against Saraki, we want to submit that justice should always take its course at any time to ensure decorum and public safety.
“As we said earlier, the court remains the only place where a suspect can prove his innocence, and therefore, we want to encourage Dr Saraki to face his trial and defend himself on the allegations levelled against him in court rather than resorting to media propaganda.”
