How Saraki diverted government loans
– An official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Michael Wetkast, presented bank documents as evidence before the court
– Wetkast, who testified against Senate president, Bukola Saraki said a cash lodgement of N10 million was approved by him
– The EFCC agent said the defendant operated three accounts in Guarantee Trust Bank – a naira, dollar and pond sterling accounts
Bukola Saraki runs three accounts in Guarantee Trust Bank – a naira, dollar and pond sterling accounts.
The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Wednesday, April 6, admitted accounts opening documents brought before it by a witness in the ongoing trial of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki.
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Michael Wetkast, a staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who presented the documents said a cash lodgement of N10 million was approved by the defendant.
He said Saraki runs three accounts in Guarantee Trust Bank – a naira, dollar and pond sterling accounts.
Wetkast also presented a request letter to GTB for the personal account details of the defendant with account number: 0034967455.
The response to the letter sent to GTB came with details of the accounts as well as an attached copy of certificate of identification and statement of account in pursuant to Section 84 of the evidence Act.
The three documents were admitted as evidence and recorded as exhibit one, while the responses to the letter was admitted as exhibit 10 to 13.
Wetkast said Saraki succeeded in diverting loans meant for the purchase of lands by the presidential committee on the implementation of landed property.
But in his argument, the defense counsel, Kanu Agabi urged the court to mandate the prosecution to give explanations on the document being presented before the court.
But continuing, the witness in his examination said N8,240,000 was deposited by one Abdul in Illorin.
“On March 29, a bank draft of N200,240,000 was made in favour of the sale and acquisition of government property by the presidential committee on the implementation of landed property. On the same day, there was a loan disbursement of N200 million preceding the earlier bank draft,” Wetkast said.
He also said that on October 16, 2006, N380 million was disbursed from GTB.
“On that same day, there was a bank draft in favour of the same implementation committee, there were two drafts combined in one transaction. The draft is for the sum of N256,312,815,” he added.
He said the money was used to obtain some landed property.
Furthermore, he said another N12.8 million bank draft in favour of same committee.
Wetkast said on February 5, N380 million was disbursed into the naira account of Sariki. Also on February 27, the first transaction in Saraki’s account was a cash deposit of N3 million by Josiah Samuel.
On April 3, 2007 there was a payment of N180,675,000 on the instruction of Saraki to the implementation committee for landed property.
On the same day, five cash deposits were made, they include: N11million, N20million, N20million N20million and N6million. He said the balance before the lodgement was N21,960,289.
“On November 22, 2007, there was cash lodgement into the account by Abdul Adama in 50 different transactions. Before the 50 lodgement the account was in a debit balance of N80,210,976. There was also cash lodgement of over 20 transactions by Ubi on November 29,” he said.
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He also added that on March 20, 2008, there were payments made to the account by several individuals. He explained that before then the account of the Senate president was on a debit. He also noted that on a later date, a loan disbursement of N400 million was approved by Saraki.
Saraki, whose trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal commenced on Tuesday, April 5, has been urged to resign his position willingly rather than allow himself to be humiliated out of office.
It was gathered that some senators comprising those who had earlier promised to support him till the end of his trial have joined those calling on the embattled senate president to consider resigning to save the reputation of the hallowed chamber.
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