Senate President's lawyer says he was rich before becoming Governor

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Michael Wetkas, on Tuesday admitted that Senate President Bukola Saraki, made anticipatory asset declaration.

Saraki is standing on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged false asset declaration and money laundering, which he pleaded not guilty.

Wetkas made the admission under cross examination by Saraki's Counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN) at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

He further testified that during investigation "we discovered N1.5 million in the defendant's wife account in Ecobank.

The witness said that N1.1million was discovered in same bank account with the name of Seni Saraki and Toyin Saraki.

Wetkas said that Saraki declared that he had cars worth N263.4 million before he became governor of Kwara.

The analysis of the defendant's cars revealed the "Saraki has Mercedes Benz S320 valued N16million, Mercedes Benz S500 valued N20 million and Mercedes Benz G500 valued six million naira.

Others were Mercedes Benz V220 valued two million naira, Ferari 456GT valued N25million and Lincoln Navigator Jeep valued N15 million. Also in the list were Mercedes Benz ML280 valued N8.5million, Peugeot 406 valued N2.9million, Mercedes Benz CLK320 valued nine million naira and Mercedes Benz E320 valued N11million.

The others were Mercedes Benz G500 valued N45million, Mercedes Benz S500 valued N30 million, Lexus Jeep valued N30 million and Lincoln Navigator worth N25million.

He also read in the exhibit that Saraki had assets worth over four billion naira both in properties and the cars. He, however, said that property No. 15, Macdonald Street Ikoyi, Lagos, was sold to Saraki's company Skyview Properties Limited which was not captured in his Asset Declaration Form.

He further testified that Saraki bought property No. 15A and 15B Macdonald Street Ikoyi, Lagos, in 2000 through his company Tiny Tee Limited. He said that the purchase violate the rules of the implementation committee on the sale of Federal Government property which suggested one person per one property.

He said the committee when contacted informed the EFCC that only property No. 15, Macdonald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, was sold to Skyview limited. The tribunal Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, adjourned further proceeding till May 11