CCB did not interrogate Saraki before filing charges against him, says EFCC detective

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) did not interrogate Senate President Bukola Saraki before filling charges of false declaration of assets against him, Michael Wetkas, a detective of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said.

However, Wetkas, who was being cross-examined by Paul Usoro (SAN), said that the EFCC had interrogated the senate president on the charges that were filed against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

“On the face of those telexes, can use please confirm the card account number,” Usoro asked the witness regarding the documents of international bank transactions tendered as evidence against Saraki by the prosecution at the tribunal.

“It is not there,” Wetkas said.

Wetkas: “The bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), is more competent to talk about international transfers.

Wetkas: “Every transaction in these telexes is specialised and that is why the head of international fund transfer of GTB is listed as a witness in this case, that is Mr Amanzu Nwachukwu. Our investigation was more on the statement of account which shows clear narration of the transactions in respect of transfers to American Express bank.”

Usoro: “Was the defendant interrogated in respect of the telexes?

Wetkas: “Not to my knowledge.”

Wetkas: “I know other members of my team asked him questions relating to his properties, about asset declaration at CCB, whether they were declared appropriately, also about the companies he has interest in locally and internationally. He made statements that I am referring to before other team members, including the petitions; he was confronted with questions on them.”

Usoro: “That statement you said the defendant made, has it been tendered before the tribunal?”

Wetkas: “Not to the best of my knowledge.”

Usoro: “You were told about it. Who is your colleague that gave you this information?”

Wetkas: “Usman Imam, Musa Sunday. These were the members that briefed me.”

Usoro: “Was an enlarged team of CCB and EFCC involved?”

Wetkas: “My own team stumbled on assets and loans. And the other team was involved in investigating companies and properties.

Wetkas: “It was when we delved into assets that CCB was involved.

Usoro: “Was the defendant interrogated when the CCB was involved?”

Wetkas: “No.”

At this point, Danladi Umar, chairman of the CCT, interjected: “We don’t take instructions from anybody. We are autonomous. Nobody is controlling us here.”

His interjection was after he had helped Usoro convey his question to the witness in simple terms.

He added he was out to deliver justice on the matter.

Kanu Agabi, Saraki’s lead counsel, asked for a week’s adjournment to enable him to prepare well for the case, but the judge adjourned the matter to April 27 instead.

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