How Saraki authorized transfer of $3.4m to US, witness tells court

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An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Michael Wetcast, on Wednesday told the Code of Conduct Tribunal that Sentate President, Bukola Saraki, authorised the transfer of $ 3.4 million to his account with the America Express Bank in New York, United States of America.

The Senate president was arraigned by the EFCC on a 13-count charge bordering on allegations of false asset declaration and money laundering at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Mr. Wetcast, led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, said the defendant directed GTBank to transfer the funds to America Express Services, Europe Limited.

He said the money was later forwarded to Saraki’s bank account at America Express Bank in New York with registration number 730580 on August 25, 2008.

The witness said on November 5, 2005, that $20,000 was lodged into Mr. Saraki’s GTB account at GRA Ilorin branch by one Bayo Dare and Abdul Adama.

The defence lawyer, Paul Usoro, did not object to the admissibility of the bank documents, but he reserves his arguments till a later date.