The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, declared on Monday that he would not suspend the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in defiance to the sitting of the Senate.
About 13 senators accompanied Saraki to the Monday’s proceedings.
However, CCT Judge promises FAIRNESS to accused and accuser as he settled rift btwn Saraki and FGN counsel. He urges them to trust the court always!
CCT Judge cautions Saraki's counsel not to use technicalities to knock out exhibits. Counsel says markings of exhibits should be rearranged.
The EFCC witness reveals alleged falsehoods in Saraki’s asset declaration forms as prosecution on Monday revealed to the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja series of alleged falsehoods in the details of the assets which the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, had declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau when he was Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011 and on being elected senator in 2011.
The Federal Government is prosecuting Saraki before the CCT on 13 counts of false and anticipatory asset declaration while serving as the Governor of Kwara State.
The first prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas, continued and ended his evidence-in-chief on Monday, pointing out alleged falsehoods in the details of the assets declared by the Senate President.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Wetkas said Saraki bought three landed assets from the Presidential Implementation Committee on Sales of Federal Government Properties, which he did not declare in the forms submitted to the CCB.
Wetkas is an operative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who said he was part of the inter-agency team that investigated the charges against the Senate President.
He said Saraki acquired the three landed assets from the presidential committee against the policy that no one should acquire not more than one.
He said, “We invited the members of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Sales of Federal Government Properties. From our findings, one person is only allowed to acquire one property under the scheme. But the first defendant got three properties using his personal name and the name of his company.
“No15 Mcdonald Street, Ikoyi was gotten in the name of the defendant’s company, Tiny Tee Limited and 17, 17A and 17 B were gotted with his personal name.
“Exhibit P21 relates to Plot 2481 and 2482 Cadastrial Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja,otherwise known as 1 and 3 Targus Street, Maitama, Abuja. From Exhibit 21, they were acquired in 1993.
“From Exhibit 1, under Appendix 3 (details of landed property in Nigeria), I did not see the property.
“The defendant did not declare Plot 2481 and 2482, Cadastrial Zone Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja, on assumption of office in 2003. Neither did I see No 1 and 3, Targus Street, Maitama, Abuja, in the asset declaration form.
“Exhibit 3 is the asset declaration form in 2007. In 2007, the defendant now declared 1 Targus Street, Maitama Abuja. No 3 was not declared.
“Exhibit 5 is asset declaration form dated June 3, 2011.
“In the asset declaration form of 2011, No. 1 Targus, Musa Yar’ Adua declared. He did not declare No 3, Targus Street, Maitama.
“Plot 2481 and 2482 Cadstrial Zone A06, Maitama, 1 and 3 Targus Street) were acquired from two different persons. Plot 2481 was purshased from one Alhaji Attahiru Adamu, which was registered in the Land and Registry Department of Federal Capital Territory Administration as File No BO5792.
“Plot 2482 was bought from Baba Kawu,and registered in the Department of Land Registry of the FCTA as File No FCT230.”
The witness also said the Saraki obtained a N375m loan from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc on February 11, 2010 and was used to buy property which was allegedly not declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau by the defendant.
He said, “Sometimes in February 11, 2010 a loan of N375m was availed to the defendant by GTB.
“Exhibit 7 is the offer letter for the loan for him to borrow N375m. The offer letter was dated February 10, 2010 but was disbursed into the account on February 11, 2010.”
“The loan was disbursed for the purshase of the property in London. I did not see anywhere it was declared in the asset declaration form of 2011.”
Wetkas is being cross-examined by the lead defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
Most petitions against Sen. Pres. Saraki were dated between 2012 - 2013 and not 2006 as alluded to by Agabi, says Wetkas
Agabi: Did petition from Kwara Freedom Network set the investigation rolling? "Not in my investigation", answers Wetkas
Agabi asks why Wetkas tendered documents on Kwara Freedom Network petition but says he didn't investigate it. Agabi says investigation from CAC shows that Kwara Freedom Network is not registered hence a fictitious organization.
Team 2 of the Economic Governance Section of EFCC investigated Kwara Freedom Network and not my team, says Michael Wetkas
Saraki's legal team says they need more days ahead to investigate the documents tendered by the prosecution hence their request for time.
Kanu Agabi is now asking for an adjournment but CCT judge says his orders are that court sits from 10am - 6pm, says he wants speed.
CCT Judge refuses to adjourn further than 2moro to allow Saraki attend to his Senate activities as SP."Senate is NOT on trial but Defendant"
"Senate President is not on trial, it is the defendant that is on trial. We can't adjourn to suit defendant" Rotimi Jacobs replies Agabi
The CCT adjourns till tomorrow at 12noon.
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