No document linking Saraki to London property — EFCC witness

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecution witness, Mr. Micheal Wetkas, on Wednesday, told the Code of Conduct Tribunal that he had no official documents linking the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to the ownership of London properties. Wetkas, who made the confession during cross examination by the defence counsel, Mr. Paul Usoroh (SAN), said, prosecution only obtained unofficial information of the London properties from their foreign partners in London. He said the partners promised to oblige them with the official documents of the property, but they are yet to do so.

“In our investigation, we normally receive unofficial information from our foreign partners” he said. Wetkas also informed the tribunal that Saraki used the N375million obtained from GTBank to buy House No. 7 and 8, Whittaker Street, London, in 2011 and 2015 respectively. He said the tilled number of the House No. 8, was NGL802235 and the second property Number was NGL802661. The witness said, he had requested from the GTBank to oblige him with the details of the properties and the address. He said the bank told them that the addresses of the properties were not disclosed to them.

Wetkas said from the loan documents attached, showed that the N375miilion loan collected by Saraki from GTBank and the narration indicates that he used the said money to buy properties in London. “When we see the statement on the mortgage redemption transfer telex, we are convinced that the defendant used the funds to acquire property in London” he said.

EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), has lamented the pace in which the defence was handling the case. Jacobs accused the defence of attempting to confuse and demoralise the witness. The Chairman of the tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, adjourned the case till May 25 for continuation of cross examination