Follow Us on Google
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
There was a major controversy yesterday over the ownership of properties alleged to have been acquired by Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The prosecution witness, Mr. Micheal Wetkas in his evidence under cross-examination told the Tribunal that the properties sold to the Senate President was privately owned.
However, this was contrary to his earlier testimony that they were bought from the Presidential Implementation Committee for the Sales of Government Houses.
Given this contradictory evidence, counsel to Saraki, Mr. Paul Usoro urged the witness to read aloud, a letter from one of the bidders of the said properties to the committee, indicating that the numbering of the properties were ambiguous.
According to the letters, the properties were labelled 15a MacDonald Street, Ikoyi, 15b, MacDonald Street, Ikoyi and Block 15, McDonald Street, Ikoyi, behind another plot of land labelled No. 15 Macdonald Street, Ikoyi.
When asked whether the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) invited the writer of the letter, Energy Marine Limited to explain the content, he answered no. On whether he visited the properties to ascertain the discrepancies in the numbers of the properties, he said he did not, but that other members of the team did and reported back to him.
Answering another question, a member of Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Panel asked the witness how he came to the conclusion that 15a and 15b are same as No. 15 and Block 15, MacDonald Street. He said he was not conversant with how properties are number but as investigator, he often relied on the replies
from the Lagos Land Registry and the Presidential Committee. Meanwhile, the tribunal has adjourned till Tuesday next week.
