Less than four months after Judge Haleema Salman of Kwara State High Court sentenced five suspects of the April 5, 2018 Offa robbery which claimed no fewer than 33 lives to death, the families of the victims have filed a lawsuit asking the court to try former governors of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki and Abdulfatah Ahmed whom the convicted suspects confessed to have sponsored them with firearms, money and operational vehicles during investigations.
The motion was filed on 19 November 2024 by the counsel of Mr Abraham Olufemi Makinde, Mr Lateef Taiye Raheem, Mr Adeshina Pelemo Adesanmi and Ms Monsurat Aramide Adebayo who are the claimants. The defendants are the Governor of Kwara State, the Attorney General of Kwara State, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
However, the court has ordered, “THAT the originating processes and all other court processes in this suit be served on 3rd and 4th Defendants/Respondents by substituted means that is pasting same at their addresses which are No. 1 Abdulkadir Street, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State and No. 19B Abdulrazaq Road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State respectively or by delivering or by delivering same to any adult person dwelling in aforesaid addresses.
“THAT the originating processes and other court processes in this suit be served on 3rd and 4th Defendants/Respondents by publishing same in National newspapers, including the Vanguard and THISDAY newspapers. THAT the service shall be deemed as proper service in the circumstances.”
The presiding judge, Hon. Justice T.O Osuolale-Ajayi, adjourned the hearing of the case to January 13, 2025, by which the respondents, Dr Saraki and Former Governor Ahmed, would have been served the court processes.
