The 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).
Punch
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