‘I don’t know what the issues are’, says bank manager testifying against Saraki

‎Nwachukwu Amazu, head of the fund transfer unit of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), on Tuesday said he did not know much about the documents he testified on.

Amazu said this while being cross-examined by Paul Usoro, counsel to Senate President Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Earlier, he had testified that Saraki transferred funds to his accounts in the United States (US) and London at the time he was Kwara state governor.

“The customer, Dr Saraki, with the address Government House, Ilorin‎, gave an instruction to transfer $73, 223.28‎ to the beneficiary, American Express Services Europe Limited through their bank, American Express Bank of New York‎, for ‎the funding of the amount utilised on Amex card issued to the customer (dollar credit card) No: 374588216836009‎,” he had said.

He had also said that “from his [Saraki’s] pound sterling account at GTB to his Fortis Bank account in London, 761, 904.76 pounds was transferred ‎on the 15th February, 2010”.

It is against Nigerian laws for a public officer to operate foreign bank accounts.

He had given his testimony while being led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the federal government and prosecution.

But under cross-examination, Usoro asked him when he made his statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and he said it was on 10 September, 2015 , five days after Saraki was summoned by the tribunal.

He also admitted that there was no evidence to show‎ that the defendant operated those accounts.

He said the transfer of funds to American Express Bank of New York was for accounts operated by American Card Services, and not by the defendant‎.

‎Contrary to his earlier testimony that an operator of a credit card must have a bank account, Amazu said the issuer of Saraki’s credit card was not a bank.

Here is a rundown of the dialogue in parts.

Usoro: Who issued the documents you testified on?

Witness: It was issued by the bank‎.

Usoro: But in the documents, it says public sector group of Ilorin, is that correct?

Witness: Yes.

Usoro: So, you have nothing to do with it?

Witness: Yes.

‎Witness: My lord, I want to say something… I don’t know what the issues in the documents are. The prosecution was only asking me questions and I was responding.

Usoro: You were not in the funds transfer unit when these funds were transferred on 15 February, 2010, is that correct?

Witness: Yes.

Usoro: The first time you saw these documents was in regard to this matter?

Witness: Yes

‎Usoro: You have nothing to do with the documentation of these fund transfers, is that correct?

‎Witness: Yes.