Nigerian democracy may soon be thrown into turmoil in the coming days as indications have emerged that the president of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki may be arrested and detained after President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reportedly gave his consent to any plan by the police to arrest Mr. Saraki over a string of murder cases in Kwara State.
Mr. Buhari was said to have received Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris at the State House on Friday afternoon, during which he was told of at least 20 murders allegedly linked to Mr Saraki in his home state, sources told Premium Times.
Sources told the newspaper that the police chief arrived at the State House with a “cornucopia” of homicide investigation documents relating to Mr Saraki.
It is understood that the president’s position is that the law should run its course so long as detectives have sufficient facts to file charges.
It therefore means that Mr. Saraki could be arrested any time now and thrown into custody.
Meanwhile, the police have invited Saraki for questioning this week at police intelligence department in Guzape, Abuja after, at least five of the suspects arrested in the Offa robbery “admitted and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles” by Mr Saraki and Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Kwara state governor.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood.
Other top Kwara government officials named in the robbery were Yusuf Abdulwahab, the chief of staff to the governor, and the environment commissioner.
According to the police, Mr Abdulwahab, 58, is already in their custody, but it is still unclear if it is in connection with the robberies.
Both Ahmed, who enjoy immunity so long as he is governor and Saraki have denied the allegations. The senate president in a statement on Sunday night said it was part of a desperate plan by Idris-led Nigeria Police to implicate him by all means.
Mr. Ahmed also said that the police allegation that he armed and funded suspects for political thuggery or for any other activity was “false and unfounded.”
The governor stressed that he had never been involved in or encouraged “thuggery or any other form of criminality.” He recalled that Kwara state government provided funds for youth in the state for small businesses; but neither him nor the state government should be held responsible for how the youth utilized such funds.
If Saraki is arrested and charged for robbery and murder, it would be the first time in Nigerian history that a serving president of the Nigerian Senate will be charged with a capital offence.
Already, Mr. Saraki holds the record as the firsr senate president to be indicted and charged for crime while in office. Recall that he had been previously docked at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for false and anticipatory declaration of assets.
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