A witness has come forward in the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to reveal that the embattled Senate President allegedly paid for a property at 17, Mcdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, in seven tranches totaling up to N522,060,000.
Mr. Micheal Wetkas, testifying at the court on Monday alleged that the property was part of those which the Senate president failed to declare to the Code of Conduct Bureau while he was on seat as the Governor of Kwara state.
Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the prosecution’s lead counsel through the witness presented the court with cheques allegedly drawn from Saraki’s personal account and the account of his firm, Carlie Properties and Investments Limited for payment for the property.
Wetkas added that: “The part payment was from GTB account of Carlie Properties and Investment Ltd.
“There is a draft before me for N256,300,000 which was part payment for 17, Mcdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“There is another draft before me of N12,815,000 which was part payment for 17, Mcdonald, Ikoyi.
“There is another draft of a total of N24,090,000. That total is broken down into. – N20m from Zenith Bank and N4,090,000 from GTB. The total of the two are part payment for 17 Mcdonald, Ikoyi.
“The N20m from the Zenith Bank account of Carlie Properties and Investments Ltd while N4,090,000 was also from Carlie Properties and Investment Ltd with GTB.
“There is another draft before me for N180,675,000 dated April 3, 2007. It was also part payment for 17 Mcdonald Ikoyi from the defendant’s personal account with GTB.
“I have another draft of N36,135,000 dated January 10, 2007. Thedraft was cleared in Carlie Properties and Investments Ltd’s account in GTB and that also forms part payment for 17 Mcdonald, Ikoyi.
“There is another draft of N12,045,000 dated January 10, 2007.”
The court however admitted all drafts presented as exhibits along with documents of Saraki’s asset declaration form submitted to the CCB in 2011.