Saraki: More revelations as power outage forces CCT to adjourn

More startling revelations continued to emerge from the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, as a witness called by the EFCC, Mr Michael Wetcast, Wednesday, told the Tribunal that the Senate President authorised the transfer of 3.4 million dollars to his US bank account.

Wetcast also alleged that Saraki, who was governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011, continued to collect salaries four years after leaving office as governor.

The witness, who was led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that Saraki directed GTBank to transfer the funds to America Express Services, Europe Limited, adding that the money was later forwarded to Saraki’s bank account at America Express Bank in New York with registration number 730580 on Aug.25, 2008.

Wetcast also alleged that on Nov. 5, 2005, $20,000 was lodged into Saraki’s GTB account at GRA Ilorin branch by one Bayo Dare and Abdul Adama.

Read also: #Panamapapers: David Mark, Fashola’s aide linked to secret offshore companies

The witness, a detective with the EFCC, said, “In the course of our investigation, we wrote to Access Bank for them to give us details of the salary account of the defendant. The salary that was coming into the account was N254, 212 as of 1 August 2007.

“As of June 3, 2011, the salary was N291, 124. On July 4, there was another payment with the narration Kwara State Government (KSG) June 2011 salary. The amount was N572, 286.

“The salary payments stopped in this account on August 31, 2015. The defendant left office on May 29, 2011; he became senator in the same year.”

The proceeding at the Tribunal was however truncated as the generator supplying power to the tribunal went off. This forced both the prosecution and defence counsels to push for an adjournment.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, adjourned the case till 18 of April for continuation.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now