Documents relating to Saraki’s foreign transactions are burnt – witness

Michael Wetkas, the Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1), testifying against Senate President, Bukola Saraki has told the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), that documents relating to an alleged transfer of $73, 233 were burnt before the commencement of trial.

The PW1 told the tribunal during cross examination by Paul Usoro SAN, that a Nigerian Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, reported that the documents relating to the said allegation contained in count 11 of the charge against Saraki have been burnt.

According to him, there was a fire outbreak to which an affidavit has been deposed.

Wetkas had earlier told the tribunal that his investigative team came across the information concerning Saraki’s foreign account through several telexes from American Express Bank, given to them by GTB and from facts before the tribunal.

He added that the requests made by his investigation team for the telexes was as a result of a debit transaction that was already consummated on that account of Saraki which showed that the bank carried out the transfer.

“There is no doubt that the transaction was actually carried out by American Express Bank. A debit in the account of the defendant was there and the narration was clear that money was transferred and where it was transferred from”, he said.

Wetkas added that the GTB was invited and they confirmed what they had stated regarding the transfer, as well as the burnt documents, adding that there were also police reports and affidavit which they (GTB) swore to show from the bank that some documents were burnt.

While fielding questions regarding whether or not he knew if the American Express Bank was a bank incorporated or not; he simply stated that his investigation only related to the debit card that was sent from the bank.

When asked if there was anything on the form, containing the details of the telex, relating an entry from the American Express Bank, Wetkas simply stated: “From my investigations that does not necessarily have to be there”, he said.

The witness said there are several telexes furnished to the investigation team by GTBank in regard to transfer to America Express service New York, he added that all the request made by the investigating team to provide information was an offshoot of debit transactions that were already consummated on that account which shows that the bank adhered to the instructions of the defendant and have already carried out the transfers to America Express.

The bank was invited to confirm that the transaction was consummated, according to him, them further requested the bank to furnish them with additional information and evidence that the transactions were carried out. The bank oblige the request and furnished the investigating team with several instructions by the defendant and telexes.

The bank added an affidavit with a statement swearing that some of the documents were burnt. But when asked to provide the affidavit in the documents that formed exhibit 8, the witness could not but he said he was sure the bank furnished

The witness confirmed that it is possible that the telex that confirmed the transfer of the $73,233 to America Express was part of the documents that the bank claimed were burnt.

The defense counsel asked the witness to tell the Tribunal which foreign bank the defendant operated. To which, he responded that it is the American Express Bank, New York that issued the card to the defendant, meaning it is the foreign bank operated by the defendant.

“On the telex, you may not see American Express Bank there, but on the instruction ordering the transfer of the same amount on the telex, you will see American Express Bank, New York”, he said.

He said based on his understanding, the card is a foreign card and it can be used for transactions. But he said he cannot specify the nature of the transactions that can be carried out with the card since he doesn’t have one of such cards.

When asked if he has seen the card in question before, Wetkas said “I have not seen it before; it is not in Nigeria because it is a foreign account”. The matter was adjourned till April 21, 2016.