Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), PHOTO: LUCY LADIDI ELUKPO
The second prosecution witness in the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday stated that he was not aware that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) had any case against the defendant until it was urged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Ministry of Justice.
Saraki is being prosecuted on an 18-count charge bordering on false assets declaration and money laundering while in office as Governor of Kwara State.
Under cross-examination by the lead defense counsel, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN), the witness, Mr. Samuel Madojemu, a staff of CCB, also told the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) that while the CCB and EFCC collaborated to ensure detailed investigation on Saraki’s assets declaration matter, intelligence report was received from the Ministry of Justice.
“There was no petition at CCB against the defendant but arising from complaint and intelligence supplied by the Attorney General of the Federation, the CCB and EFCC decided to collaborate to ensure detailed investigation on infraction discovered in the Assets Declaration Form. CCB had nothing against Saraki; not to my knowledge,” he stated.
When asked whether the intelligence report from the Ministry of Justice was oral or written, he said: “Arising from EFCC investigation, the CCB Chairman was briefed by the AGF but I was not there.”
When asked if he recalled conducting an interview with the defendant, the witness explained that he did not see any need for the interview since the defendant had made statement in his Assets Declaration Form on oath.
Admitting Saraki was not the only ex-governor the Bureau has investigated, the witness however denied knowledge of outcome of others’ investigation report.
The witness had earlier told the tribunal that he was not familiar with all aspects of the case. But when asked if he was familiar with every aspect of the case, Madujemu told the tribunal that he was not totally familiar with every aspect of the exhibits tendered before the court.
“I was not a member of the 2006 investigation team that verified the assets of the defendant before his assumption of office in 2003,” he said.
However, the witness admitted being a member of the 2015 investigation team, which he said, comprised of the CCB and the EFCC.
Since he was not part of the 2006 team, the defence counsel queried if he was at the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the report. The tribunal adjourned proceedings till March 21 and 22.
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