SARAKI FACES FRESH CHARGES.

The Federal Government has again re-
amended the charges preferred
against the Senate President, Dr.
Bukola Saraki, before the Code of
Conduct Tribunal.
There have been two amendments of
the original 13 counts which now brings
the counts against the Senate
President to 16.
The first amendment which brought in
additional two counts was made on
April 18, 2016 while the latest made
on April 27, 2016, added one fresh
count.
The charges dated April 18 were
withdrawn on Thursday.
The latest amendment was introduced
by the prosecution accepted by the
tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar,
after overruling the defence led by
Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), who argued
that the prosecution required a motion
to give the reasons for the amendment
before the tribunal could accept it.
The prosecution alleged in the latest
count that on June 3, 2011, Saraki
failed to declare his interest in “an
American Express Service Card with No:
374588216836009 wherein you (Saraki)
transferred huges sums of money in
dollars from your Guaranty Trust
Bank domiciliary account No
441441953210 in Nigeria to the
American Express Service, Europe,
whilst you Executive Governor of Kwara
State.”
The offence is said to be contrary to
section 15 of the Code of Conduct
Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,
2004 and as incorporated under
paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o
the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.
It is said to be punishable under
section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct
Bureau and Tribunal Act as
incorporated under paragraph 18,
Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the
Constitution.
The charges will be read to the
defendant who will plead either guilty
or not guilty to it when the tribunal
resumes from its break.
The defence will then continue the
cross-examination of the first
prosecution witness, Mr. Michael
Wetkas.
Originally, the Federal Government
preferred against Saraki,13 counts,
including charges of false and
anticipatory asset declaration, as well
as operation of foreign accounts,
which he allegedly committed while
being Governor of Kwara State between
2003 and 2011.
The first amendment added two
charges which, include allegation that
Saraki continued to receive salary and
emoluments as Governor of Kwara
State after the expiration of his tenue
and at the same time, from the
Federal Government as a senator
between June 2011 and October 2013.
The offence is said to be contrary to
section 6(a) of the Code of Conduct
Bureau and Tribunal Act. CAP. C15,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,
2004 and as incorporated under
paragraph 2(a), Part I of the Fifth
Schedule to the Constitution.
It is said to be punishable under
section 23(2) of the code of conduct
bureau and tribunal act as
incorporated under paragraph 18,
Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the
Constitution.
The other additional charge is that
Saraki failed to declare to the Code of
Conduct Bureau on assumption of
office as Governor of Kwara State in
2003, his leasehold interest leasehold
in the property at 42, Remi Fani
Kayode Street, Ikeja, Lagos.
He was said to have acquired the
property in December 12, 1996
through his company, Skyview
Properties Limited from First Finance
trust Limited.
The offence is said to be contrary to
section 15(1)(2) of the Code of
Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act,
CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated
under paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part1
of the Fifth Schedule to the
Constitution.