"A Grade I Area Court in Aco Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to serve a summons on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to compel him to face a criminal complaint initiated against him by a private lawyer in respect of the bloody bank robbery in which many died in Offa, Kwara State, earlier this year.

The criminal complaint was initiated by an Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, whose lawyer told the court on Monday that the IGP had given assurance that the necessary court papers would be served on the Senate President.



The police had said their investigations linked Saraki to the kingpin of the robbery operation.

The Senate President is the sole defendant in the criminal complaint initiated by the private lawyer.

The criminal complaint marked, CR/196/2018, was said to have been initiated by Ojaomo under Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

It sought Saraki to be summoned for allegedly ignoring police invitation to answer to an allegation involving the investigation of the suspects of the Offa robbery.

The complaint stated that Saraki’s alleged refusal to honour the invitation amounted to obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility.

This alleged conduct, it said, was an offence punishable under Section 136 and 149 of the Penal Code Law.

The judge handling the case at the Grade 1 Area Court, Aco Estate, Lugbe, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Abdullahi Garuba Ogbede, had, on September 10 this year, ordered the issuance of a summons on Idris following Saraki’s absence from court.

On Monday, the complainant’s lawyer, Mr E. S. Marcus, said he was informed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Legal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, identified as Mahmoud, that the IGP had directed the legal unit to ensure the prompt service of the court papers on Saraki before the next hearing date of October 3, 2018.



He said, “The defendant is not in court. At the last date, the court issued a witness summons on the IGP to come and show cause why the police failed to effect service of the criminal summons, warrant of arrest and other processes on the defendant.

“The witness summons was served on the Nigeria Police Force by the court’s registry.

“However, we received a call from DSP Mahmoud of the Legal Department of the Nigeria Police Force headquarters, that the matter has been assigned by the IGP to a particular unit of the NPF to effect the service of the summons on the defendant and arrest him.”

Marcus explained in court on Monday that his client, who was supposed to bear the responsibility of serving Saraki with the complaint, had to resort to seeking the IGP’s involvement in accordance with Section 122 of the ACJA, when it became difficult for him to serve the Senate President.

According to the lawyer, the Inspector-General of Police is required, under the law, to either produce the defendant in court or attend court to explain why the defendant was absent.

He then applied to the court to grant a short adjournment to enable the police to serve the processes on Saraki.

The judge, Ogbede, granted Marcus’ request and adjourned the case till October 3.

The criminal complaint against the Senate President read, “Criminal complaint brought pursuant to Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Please, cause a summons for a direct criminal complaint on the defendant on the following terms:

“That you, Dr Bukola Saraki, on or about the 24th day of July, 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did refuse to honour the invitation of the Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force to report at the police headquarters in FCT, Abuja to answer to an allegation involving the investigation of some criminal suspects involved in a case which the Nigeria Police Force is currently investigating, thereby obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility.

“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 136 and 149 of the Penal Code Law, whereas, the complainant is praying the court to charge the defendant accordingly.”

https://punchng.com/offa-robbery-court-summons-saraki-over-fresh-criminal-complaint/

GavelSlam:
Saraki, you have a case to answer.

The boys you armed killed 31 members of the public.

The blood of the innocent cries out.

Enough of this nonsense please ...He armed them with what ? The robbers all agreed that the dismissed policeman brought all the rifles used for the robbery ...

FarahAideed:


Enough of this nonsense please ...He armed them with what ? The robbers all agreed that the dismissed policeman brought all the rifles used for the robbery ...

That Criminal should be arrested and not “summoned” he does not have immunity. He will be convicted and jailed in 2020 when Buhari is using second term. I promise you.

It baffles me how a human will decide to kill his fellows in order to get some things.

I mean... Why?

I think they should execute all those robbers already.

Free Saraki

Saraki's hands aren't clean, though he didn't ask the boys to go and rob but sure, they are his thugs and he probably has armed them.

SaraThief , Obey this Clarion call , respect yourself and clear your name


Funny some idiots want Adeosun's head but will not talk about Saraki's frivolities

Thiefno Melayer having graduated 12 years ago went back to ABU to regraduate , that case is under a carpet


Osunwon ( scale) being used for other people was not used for Kemi otherwise 60% of nass will be stoned to death

I have just a question to ask,
If Saraki were a staunch Buhari loyalist, Would he be in this mess?

FarahAideed:


Enough of this nonsense please ...He armed them with what ? The robbers all agreed that the dismissed policeman brought all the rifles used for the robbery ...

stop arguing with those stupid boys, they are paid to be stupid

Even if Saraki is caught robbing a bank, we will still vote for him

Sai..raki

We are absolutely sure here that his boys were the criminals
34 people died

OAFMods:


Can anyone listen to this shameless Igbo piece of shiit shamelessly defending someone who patronize thugs to kill 32 civilians ? Can anyone just imagine the lunatics PDP paid on NL to be defending them ?

E pepper am

Again, if Saraki was caught by himself robbing a bank, we will still vote for him

Karma is a Nigerian

Buhari and his devil party gimmicks, have watched saraki tour on #grownaija, seen he has a better well planned campaign strategy, how his winning heart of the youth, they're now fighting so hard to indict him... It will never work for them... Naija must be better

OAFMods:




Can anyone listen to this shameless Igbo piece of shiit shamelessly defending someone who patronize thugs to kill 32 civilians ? Can anyone just imagine the lunatics PDP paid on NL to be defending them ?

And you supporting one who armed Boko haram and herdsmen... One that have sent thousands of humans to early grave... Even the land has rejected bubu

chiscodedon:
Buhari and his devil party gimmicks, have watched saraki tour on #grownaija, seen he has a better well planned campaign strategy, how his winning heart of the youth, they're now fighting so hard to indict him... It will never work for them... Naija must be better

Don't mind them.. They're now asking for his NYSC certificate when he can just present a NEPA bill.

#GrowNigeria is a task and all hands must be on deck.

OAFMods:




Can anyone listen to this shameless Igbo piece of shiit shamelessly defending someone who patronize thugs to kill 32 civilians ? Can anyone just imagine the lunatics PDP paid on NL to be defending them ?

sharap there..
Igbo this,, igbo that

Dem don start again.. Why is d police more interested in Saraki dan d robbers who robbed d banks

Stop him from contesting,

It's such a shame senator saraki is still walking around a free man because he's a prominent figure in nigeria, if this same allegation were laid on an ordinary nigerian, i'm sure that nigerian would have gone through numerous form of torture from the police.

Truly, i'm believing the law nowadays, as it relates to nigeria, is strictly meant for people who have no political affiliation and influence.

What a country.

APC just want to pay Saraki for his betrayal and not cos he's contesting for president. As far as the number one seat is concerned he can't even equal a Buhari not to talk of defeating him, but because he played and betrayed the party, he must be taught a lesson.

he's already smelling the prison beans

Go and defend yourself Sir.... Wish you luck!

the battle is not yet over, more scene to come

GavelSlam:
Saraki, you have a case to answer.

The boys you armed killed 31 members of the public.

The blood of the innocent cries out.

Senseless comment

FarahAideed:

Enough of this nonsense please ...He armed them with what ? The robbers all agreed that the dismissed policeman brought all the rifles used for the robbery ...

Shibuke, who appointed you as the PRO of armed robbers?

Why is it that you Ipob people have an abnormal desire to identify with criminals and help them escape justice?

Ok