The families of those killed in the 2018 Offa robbery have filed a lawsuit at the Ilorin High Court, seeking N2.1 billion in compensation from the Kwara State government.
The claimants—Abraham Oluwafemi Makinde, Lateef Taiye Raheem, Adeshina Felemo Ayesanmi, and Monsurat Aramide Adebayo—also named former Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed as defendants, alleging political ties to the attackers.
According to the families, their loved ones were among those killed on April 5, 2018, during the coordinated robbery of the Owode Police Station and multiple banks in Offa. They argue that both the state government and the former political leaders played a role in enabling the attack, which claimed over 35 lives, including police officers and civilians.
Court filings reveal accusations that stolen items from the robbery were hidden at the Government House during Ahmed’s administration. Additionally, the convicted robbers reportedly confessed to being political operatives connected to Saraki’s network.
One of the convicts, Ayoade Akinnibosun (alias AY), allegedly stated that Saraki and Ahmed supported their activities, using them as political thugs to disrupt elections when outcomes were unfavorable. The families claim these ties emboldened the robbers to carry out the deadly assault.
Among the claimants is Makinde, whose wife Grace, a pregnant police officer, was killed during the attack. Raheem shared that his brother Fatai, the family’s breadwinner, left behind elderly parents, two wives, and five children. Ayesanmi, the eldest son of the late ASP Ayesanmi, and Adebayo, the widow of Kaseem, a murdered bank employee, are also seeking justice.
The families are represented by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) J.J. Usman, Yakubu Philemon, M.I. Abubakar, and A.O.F. Philip. They are demanding N1.5 billion in compensation, N500 million in general damages, and N100 million for legal fees.
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Chronicles Reporters