Ade Adesomoju, Abuja
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).