CCT: Saraki’s Trial Is Without Petition – Witness

A detective from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and prosecution witness, Micheal Wetkas, has revealed that the trial of the Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) did not emanate from any petition against the Senate president.

The Senate president is being tried before the tribunal by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over alleged false assets declaration.

During the proceedings of the tribunal, Mr Wetkas, under cross examination by Saraki’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), told the Tribunal that he filed the charge against the Senate president on September 14, 2015, while the witness’ report, which forms part of proof of evidence, was filed on October 30, 2015.

The witness also told the Tribunal that he did not investigate the pension scheme of Kwara State; neither did he have knowledge of the entitlements of the defendant.

He said that Saraki was receiving monthly salaries from the Kwara State government for four years after the expiration of his tenure as governor of the state.

He further cited to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) that the Senate president failed to declare his property located at No. 1 and No. 3 Targus Street, Maitama, Abuja, in the assets declaration he made in 2007 and 2011.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Umar Danladi, has ordered day-to-day trial of the Senate president.

During its sitting yesterday, the Tribunal admitted 17 more exhibits as proof that Saraki owned the properties in question.

 Among the documents tendered through the witness by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN),  include a GTB Plc bank draft in the sums N256.3 million, N12.8 million and another N24 million as part payment for property on No. 17 Mcdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, by the defendant.