Revealed: How Saraki purchased govt property using front

The ongoing trial of the embattled Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki resumed on Monday at Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) took an interesting turn.

The lead witness for the evidence Michael Wetkas, revealed how Saraki secretly purchased a property using a company named Tiny Tee Ltd as a front for the transaction.

The said property is located at 15A Macdonald in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

He told tribunal that Saraki bought more than one property from a presidential implementation committee on landed property, “which was against the rule”.

Wetkas said, “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.

“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.

This he did in seven tranches, but he failed to declare it at the CCB.

In addition, Wetkas also claimed that Toyin Saraki, wife of the senate president, denied involvement in the “activities” of one of her husband’s companies.

He said the company in question, Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited is the one Saraki allegedly used to buy units of property he did not declare at the CCB.

He also said that Saraki has controlling shares in 10 companies, some of which are “Skyview properties, Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited, Orion-Agro Limited, and PPI Limited”.

The tribunal admitted 43 documents – account statements, cheques, letters and CCB forms – as evidence against the senate president.

Also, during Monday’s proceedings, Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), struck out request by Saraki’s lawyer, Kanu Agbabi for long adjournment in order for Saraki to attend plenary session.

Danladi said it is Saraki that is on trial not the Senate as a body, therefore the trial resume at 12 o’clock tomorrow.

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