Offa Robbery: Saraki’s Lawyers Tell Judge To Recuse Himself

The Kwara State High Court yesterday adjourned till 21 July 2026 for the hearing of the motion on notice filed by lawyers to former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, requesting the judge presiding over the Offa robbery case filed by the state government against Saraki and his successor, Alh Abdulfatai Ahmed, Justice Osuolalale Ajayi, to recuse himself to prevent prejudice and conflict of interest.

In a motion on notice filed by the defence lawyers led by Mr Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), the team reminded Justice Ajayi that he is also the presiding judge in the civil suit number KWS/492/2024 between Yusuf Aishat Ibikunle and 2 others versus the Governor of Kwara State and others arising from the same Offa robbery.

The defendant’s lawyers argued that while Saraki and Ahmed are first and second defendants in the present criminal proceedings, they were the third and fourth defendants in the civil matter and that the “principal issues for determination in the civil suit are substantially intertwined with the allegations which remain to be determined in the instant criminal charge”.

Saraki’s lawyers, in a 27-page process, reminded the judge that the civil case “is founded on substantially the same facts and allegations forming the subject matter of this criminal charge” and that having commenced hearing on the earlier case, he would be prejudiced by the facts arising from the civil matter as he proceeds with the criminal case.

The lawyers argued that “there exists a real likelihood, or at least a reasonable apprehension, that the prior consideration and determination of those facts in the civil suit may affect public confidence in the impartial adjudication of the instant criminal charge.

“It is in the interest of Justice and in furtherance of the constitutional guarantee of a fair hearing that this Honourable Court recuse itself where the circumstances give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias or where such recusal is necessary to preserve the integrity of the judicial process”, they submitted.

The lawyers requested Justice Ajayi to give an order directing that the case file in the criminal matter be returned to the Chief Judge of Kwara State for reassignment to another judge of the High Court for hearing and determination.

The defendant’s lawyers further argued that granting their client’s application would enhance public confidence in the administration of justice and would occasion no prejudice to the respondent. Justice Osuolale adjourned the matter to 21 July 2026.