Witness Narrates How Saraki “Illegally” Bought Properties From Presidential Committee

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, used different bank drafts to buy properties in Ikoyi, Lagos, a witness, Michael Wetkas, told the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on Monday,  April 18.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

At the resumed hearing of the case, the witness, an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who was led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said Saraki bought the properties through his companies.He said investigation revealed that House No. 15, Macdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos and Block 15, Flat 1 to 4 of the same street belonged to Saraki.

According to him, the senate president bought the properties from the Presidential Committee on Sale of Federal Government Landed Properties in Lagos through his companies.He added that the defendant made a bank draft in the name of TYNITY Company limited, which he declared in the Asset declaration form.

He noted that when the EFCC investigation team wrote to the presidential committee seeking clarification, the committee said that from their records, the only property sold to the company was No. 15, Macdonald Street, Ikoyi.

Wetkas said 75%, which amounted to N123.7m was paid for House No. 15, Macdonald Street, Ikoyi, through a bank draft from the account of one of Saraki’s company called Skyview Properties Limited in Access Bank.He also said that investigation revealed that the defendant made a bank draft through his company TYNITY and paid for House No. 17, Macdonald Street in Ikoyi, Lagos in the sum of N256.3m.

“My lord, there was a draft of N12.8m and another draft of N20m from Zenith Bank, as well as a draft of N4m from GTBank as part of payment for the purchase of House No. 17, Macdonald Street.

“The N20m draft came from Carlys Properties and Investment Limited and a draft of N136.1m was made on Jan. 13, 2007 for the purchase of same property.“Another draft of N180.6m was made through Mr. Saraki`s personal bank account in GTB.’’

According to Wetkas, buying more than one property from the said committee “was against the rule”.Wetkas claimed that Saraki did not declare some of the acquired properties at the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

“The policy is that one person is not allowed to get more than a property. From the findings in this case, the defendant has three property acquired from the scheme using company and personal details,” he said.

“In Exhibit One, details of landed property in Nigeria, plots 2481 and 2482, cadastral zone, Abuja, were not in the asset declaration form.“In Exhibit Three, 2007, he declared the property at No 1, Targus street Maitama, Abuja. In Exhibit Five, 2011, No 1 Targus, Musa Yar’ Adua street was also declared.”

He added that Saraki bought a property at 17 McDonald street, Ikoyi, Lagos for N522m, which he did in seven tranches, but that he failed to declare it at the CCB.

The prosecution tendered a total of 43 exhibits, which were admitted in evidence.The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, turned down a request by Saraki’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), asking for daily records of proceedings of the court.

In his explanation, Umar said the request would not be possible because it would overburden the registry of the court and that the law required defence to apply within a specific time and not daily.However, a mild drama ensued when Agabi urged the tribunal not to further fix trial dates at a time when Senate was having plenary.

The tribunal, however, overruled his submission, saying it was the defendant that was facing trial and not the Senate.Saraki is facing a 13-count charge bordering on allegations of false asset declaration and money laundering.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.