Key evidence against Saraki burnt in Nigerian bank — Witness

April 20, 2016Evelyn Okakwu


A prosecution witness testifying against the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday told the Code of Conduct Tribunal that documents relating to Mr. Saraki’s alleged transfer of $73, 233: 28 were burnt before the commencement of trial.

Mr. Saraki is standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for an alleged false and anticipatory declaration of assets.

The witness, Micheal Wetkas, told the tribunal during cross examination by a defence counsel, Paul Usoro, that the documents relating to the said allegation, contained in count 11 of the charge against Mr. Saraki, was reported to have been burnt by a Nigerian bank, the Guaranteed Trust Bank, where the said fund was transferred from.

“There is an affidavit and I believe it was fire outbreak,” he stated

Mr. Wetkas, who told the tribunal that his investigative team came across the information concerning Mr. Saraki’s foreign account through several telexes from the American Express Bank, provided to the team by GTB.

He added that the requests made by his investigation team for the telexes was a result of a debit transaction noticed in Mr. Saraki’s account.

“There is no doubt that the transaction was actually carried out by American Express Bank,” the witness said.

“A debit in the account of the defendant was there and the narration was clear that money was transferred and where it was transferred from.”


Foramfera

Mr. Wetkas added that GTB was invited and that the bank confirmed what it earlier stated regarding the transfer, and the burnt documents.

“There were also police reports and affidavit which they (the GTB) swore to show that some documents were burnt,” he stated.

While answering questions regarding whether or not he (Mr. Wetkas) knew if the American Express Bank was a bank incorporated or not, he said his investigation only related to the debit card sent from the bank.

“I know the bank exists through open source information. I do not believe anybody will carry his money and throw into a non existent account,” Mr. Wetkas said.

Also when asked if there was anything on the form containing the details of the telex, relating an entry from the American Express Bank, Mr. Wetkas simply stated: “From my investigations that does not necessarily have to be there.”

When Mr. Usoro, insisted on getting a response to that question, Mr. Wetkas said there was nothing referring to the American Express Bank.

The tribunal then went on short recess.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/202121-key-evidence-saraki-burnt-nigerian-bank-witness.html

There's always a digital trail

DaBullIT:
There's always a digital trail

yeah especially in this digital age.If they fail to present it then their case is as good as dead

Mr. Wetkas added that GTB was invited and that the bank confirmed what it earlier stated regarding the transfer, and the burnt documents.

“There were also police reports and affidavit which they (the GTB) swore to show that some documents were burnt,” he stated.

chukwudi44:


yeah especially in this digital age.If they fail to present it then their case is as good as dead

It was part of what was presented. Don't mind the lawyer, trying to justify the huge sum he collected.

SARAKI has won the case........





SAI SARAKI

amaechi1:


It was part of what was presented. Don't mind the lawyer, trying to justify the huge sum he collected.

Reading comments like yours make me feel like throwing up. Whose duty to provide the digital copy? Saraki or Buhari's team? you think to fight corruption is as easy as going to social media, shouting "ole"; give N500 to jobless youths coming on line with it to defend the monumental shame.
I have never witness a shameless followers like APC's own all my life. The Judge has descended into the arena in this case and I trust my Supreme Court judges to decipher justice from injustice, judiciously from judicially.