A prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas on Thursday told the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki did not disclose his American Express account during his assets declaration.
Wetkas, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, made the revelation while under cross examination by counsel to the Senate President, Paul Usoro.
Wetkas said the card account number of the telexes involving Saraki’s foreign transfers was not in the document tendered before the tribunal.
He said, “The American Express Bank card was not disclosed in the asset declaration form to the bureau
“The strength of my team during investigation was more on the statement of account which shows clear narration of the transfers to American Express Bank, New York.”
Usoro explained that the telex is the document that effects the transfer based on the consumers instruction and that it was contained in count 12 of the charges levelled against Saraki by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Answering question from Usoro on whether Wetkas confirmed that members of his team interrogated Saraki on the telex issued by the American Express Bank, Wetkas said, “not to my knowledge.
“The investigating teams were divided into various teams and the one that was in charge of Saraki’s assets made the revelation during its work.
“I know they asked him questions relating to his properties, about the declaration of assets before the Tribunal, the companies he has interest in, locally and internationally, also about society general bank and he made statements on all of those things I mentioned before my other team members.
“Saraki also made statements about some of the petitions tendered and other issues I may not remember.”
On whether the statements Saraki made at the commission were tendered before the tribunal, Wetkas said, “not to the best of my knowledge.
“I was only briefed by my colleagues who interrogated him, namely, Usman Iman and Musa Sunday about the other aspect of Saraki’s interrogation.”
Saraki’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi applied for a week adjournment so as to allow the defence study the amended charge filed by the prosecution, adding that some exhibit also needed to studied.
Responding, EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs urged the tribunal not to entertained the one week adjournment.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar after listening to the arguments of both counsels adjourned the matter till Wednesday next week for further cross examination of the first defence witness.
.
Comentarios