Kwara youths raise alarm over plot to implicate Saraki in criminal case

KWARA state youths under the aegis of Kwara Agenda staged a peaceful protest to the Government House, Ilorin, on Wednesday alleging a plot to frame Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki in a criminal case.

This is just as the Kwara State Government expressed concern about the way and manner four suspected cult members were transferred from the state police command to Abuja.

The leader of the group, Taofiq Olateju told Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed the plot was to link the Senate president with a murder case involving one Lanre Mohammed Soliu, who was recently paraded by the police in the state over alleged involvement in cult-related murders.

The protesters in a large population, carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Fresh plot to frame Saraki uncovered,” ” stop intimidating Saraki,” “we stand with Saraki,” among others.

Ahmed Olateju also raised the alarm that the suspect was being transported to Abuja while his crime was allegedly committed in Ilorin.

“Our attention has been drawn to a fresh plot by the federal government to implicate the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki in a murder case involving one Lanre Mohammed Soliu.

“It is on record that Lanre Mohammed Soliu was recently paraded alongside five others by the Kwara state police commissioner, Aminu Pai Saleh, as members of Aiye confraternity cult group. Soliu was specifically accused of killing one Yemi Bayero of Ago market, Ilorin. The offences which the suspect allegedly committed were carried out in Ilorin, Kwara state, and expectedly he’s supposed to be tried in a competent court of jurisdiction in the state.

“We are, however, alarmed by a new twist to the whole issue. As we are speaking with you, Soliu is being transported to Abuja by men of Kwara state police command.

“This is not our concern, but our concern is about the plot by the powers that be to torture and force the suspect to implicate Dr Bukola Saraki. We have it on good authority that the main purpose of transferring the self- confessed cultist to Abuja is to implicate the Senate President in the whole saga.

“As concerned youths of Kwara state, we want to appeal to men of conscience across the country to prevail on the federal government to stop intimidating and humiliating our God – sent leader, the President of the Senate. No Senate President in the history of this country has been so humiliated and vilified as Senator Bukola Saraki, for no just cause.

“Saraki is our leader and a law-abiding citizen whose passion is to improve the lots of the common man. He should be left alone to continue the good job he and his colleagues are doing at the National Assembly.

“We are using this forum to warn those behind this fresh plot to frame and tarnish the image of our leader to retrace their steps. We have no doubt in our mind that this fresh plot like the ones before it shall fail woefully.

“Dr Bukola Saraki remains committed to the cause of the Nigerian masses, and their prayers and support shall always keep him going and ensure his victory over his adversaries.”

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In his response, Governor Ahmed promised to deliver the message from the youths to the right quarters as he commended their maturity in carrying out the protest.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has expressed concern about the way and manner four suspected cult member were transferred from the state police command to Abuja.

Speaking to newsmen at the end of an emergency Security Council meeting at Government House, Ilorin, the Director of Public Persecution (DPP), Mr Jimoh Adebimpe Mumini said the offences are state-based and triable under the state laws.

The DPP who wondered why four out of the seventeen accused persons were transferred to Abuja observed that there were some notorious cases of cultism that have been successfully prosecuted in the state.

He said he was of the belief that the four suspected cultists being transferred to Abuja, possibly for further interrogation, will be returned to the state where the offence was committed for trial.

According to him, “we had cases of notorious and dangerous killers in the state which have been handled in the state. Our hope is that the Nigeria Police Force will return the four accused persons to the state for trial.”

Also speaking, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Leke Ogungbe, said the state security council hopes that the transfer issue is not politically motivated.

“As a government, we are made to understand that the offences for which the accused persons were arrested for are state offence. We’re now surprised that four of the accused were transferred to Abuja. We hope that no political gains is intended.”

In a similar vein, members of Kwara Agenda stormed the State Government House, Ilorin carrying placards with different inscriptions such as “planned to frame up saraki is exposed,” “we stand by Saraki,” “Saraki is our leader stop intimidating Saraki,” among others.