Police Give Saraki 48hrs To Explain Link With Suspects And Other Headlines Today

The Nigeria Police Force is progressing with its invitation to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on his alleged link with the core suspects of the April 5 Banks Robbery in Offa, Kwara State. The story is also prominent in the papers today.

THE NATION, PUNCH, DAILY SUN and VANGUARD all make it their front page headlines. The report says the police have given President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, till Wednesday to present his written defence on his alleged link  with suspected robbers, who invaded banks  in Offa on April 4.

Saraki, who disclosed this on Monday in his Facebook and Twitter handle, had earlier said that he was ready to honour the invitation of the police. The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, had, on Sunday in Abuja while parading suspects involved in the Offa bank robberies, said alleged gang leaders levelled allegations against Saraki and the Kwara State Governor, Abdufatah Ahmed.

Moshood had said that Saraki had been asked to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team Office at Guzape, Abuja to answer to the allegations reportedly levelled against him by five alleged gang leaders. But  on Monday morning, the Senate President  said he was ready to honour an invitation by the police. The lawmaker said he had instructed his aide-de-camp to get the invitation letter from the police.

In a related development, Members of the New PDP bend of the All Progressives Congress APC have kicked against the linking of Saraki and  Ahmed to the Offa banks robberies. The group in a statement on Monday by its leader, Alhaji Kawu Baraje,  said it had suspended its reconciliation talks with the APC and the Presidency.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE, THE GUARDIAN and NEW TELEGRAPH report that it cited the Police indictment of  Saraki and  Ahmed, in the Offa banks robberies,  as one of the reasons for the suspension of the talks. The nPDP had last week met with Osinbajo. It was also scheduled to attend a meeting with the Vice-President yesterday but the statement by Baraje said the Presidency and the APC were not interested in reconciliation.

It stated that despite the complaints of its members, the APC went ahead to approve congresses of states, where its members were not well treated.