Senator Bukola Saraki: in the dock

Ayorinde oluokun/Abuja

The riveting trial of Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki is now on interlude.

Though Justice Danladi Umar was  prepared to allow the first prosecution witness. Michael Weskat  continue  his evidence-in-chief  as led by  Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecution counsel, power failure at the Court around 4.55 pm forced the Tribunal to adjourn proceedings.

Justice Umar adjourned proceedings to 18 April after admitting as evidence letters sent to FCT Development Control and AGIS in respect of No 1 and No 3 Targus Street, Maitama Abuja.

The documents confirmed  Saraki as the owner of the properties as well as the date the properties were purchased.

Also admitted were letters written to CAC to confirm the ownership of companies the defendant declared in his assets declaration form and some other companies and the responses from the CAC to the letters.

The documents were admitted as exhibit by the Court as the defence counsel said he reserved his objections to the documents.

The defence has also given undertaking to begin its cross examination of the witness on the adjourned date.

Earlier  Weskat had disclosed  that  Saraki continued to  draw salaries from Kwara State,  up till August 2015.

Saraki was the governor between May 2003 and May 2011. He was elected Senator for Kwara central in 2011.

Weskat  told the Court that the  EFCC wrote Access Bank to furnish it with the salary of the defendants to enable it know the income of defendants when he was governor of Kwara State.

“In the statement, the salary that was coming into the account was 254,412.55kobo as salary for July 2007.

“The salary paid for May 2011 was  291,124.00.  The salary was paid on 3 June, 2011 as Kwara State government  May 2011 salary.

On 4 July, 2011, there was another payment June 2011 salary of N572,286,32 kobo.

“On 29 August  2011, there was another payment of another N744,002.22kobo.

“On 29 September, 2011, September salary and the sum is N740, On 27 October 2011, October salary for N1,165, 466.12.

“On the 7 Dec 2011, there was payment of the same amount.

“Then on 28 Dec 2011, there was payment of the same amount into the account as December pension.

“On 1 February, 2011, the same amount, but the narration is salary.