A document exclusively obtained by Premium Times has revealed that the
embattled Senate President transferred a total of $3.47 million in 40
installments in four years with his credit card to the United States.
The embattled Senate President transferred a total of $3.47 million
in 40 installments in four years with his credit card to the United
States, a document obtained by Premium Times revealed.
He carried out the transactions through Guarantee Trust Bank
between 2009, when he served as Kwara State governor, and 2012 when he
served as the senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District.
Prosecutors say the beneficiary accounts in the U.S. were also owned by Mr. Saraki.
Some of the senator’s companies, during the same period, also
transferred thousands of dollars to the U.S. accounts. The companies are
Carlisle Properties and West Gate Ltd.
Mr. Saraki is currently facing a 13-count charge bordering on
corruption and false asset declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
He allegedly committed the offence when he served as governor between
2003 and 2011.
The politician has denied any wrongdoing and alleged political persecution.
Of the 13-count charges filed against the senate president, two are related to the transfer of the $3.47 million.
Count 11 of the charges filed against Mr. Saraki states: That you,
DR. OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI on or about 25th August, 2008 within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal, while being a public officer
as the Executive Governor of Kwara State did operate a bank account
outside Nigeria when you transferred the sum of $73, 223.28 (Seventy
Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand Dollars,
Twenty-Eight cents) from your Guaranty Trust Bank Plc domiciliary
account No 441441953210 to the American Express Services Europe Limited
No: 730580 for onward credit to your American Express Bank, New York
card account No:374588216836009 and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to paragraph 3 of Part I, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Section 7 of the
Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and punishable under paragraph 9
of the said Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct
Bureau and Tribunal Act.
Count 12 states: That you, DR. OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI between
August, 2009 and October 2012 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Tribunal, while being a public officer as the Executive Governor of
Kwara State and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria did operate a
bank account outside Nigeria when you transferred the aggregate sum of
$3, 400, 000.00 (Three Million, Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) from your
Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. domiciliary account No 441441953210 to the
American Express Services Europe Limited no: 730580 for onward credit to
your American Express Bank, New York card account No:374588216836009
and you thereby committed an offence contrary to paragraph 3 of Part I,
Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999 (as amended) and section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and
Tribunal Act and punishable under paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule
to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as
amended) and section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal
Act.
A prosecution witness had told the CCT that documents related to the transfer were destroyed in an inferno.
When being cross examined by the defence counsel, Paul Usoro, at
the Tribunal last Tuesday, the prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas, said
Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, told the investigation team that the
transaction documents had been burnt.
“There were also police reports and affidavit which they (the GTB)
swore to show that some documents were burnt,” Mr. Wetkas stated.
The document, obtained exclusively by Premium Times, shows that Mr.
Saraki, on August 26, 2009, transferred the $72,223.25 to the American
Express Services Europe Limited no: 730580 for onward credit to the
American Express Bank, New York card account No:374588216836009.
Following the transfer, the bank charged him a commission of $732.23. It is not clear what the money transferred was meant for.
That same day (August 26) one of his companies, Carlisle Properties Investment, transferred another $49,969.00.
Between September 2009 and October 2012, Mr. Saraki transferred over $3 million.
According to the document, in 2009 the senate president transferred
$127,174.05 on September 8; $85,543.88 on October 21; and $127,586.41
on November 11.
In 2010, he transferred $140,319 on January 4; $140,000 on March
15; $84,000 on April 16; $134,000 on May 18; $64,000 on June 21; $80,984
on July 29; $100,000 on August 31; $18,000 on September 2; $$48,900 on
October 11; and $183,232.46 on December 8;
In 2011, Mr. Saraki transferred $32,687 on February 21; $30,656.74
on March 22; $111,444.79 on June 22; $43, 651 on July 19; $91,738 on
August 16; $10,000 on August 26; $65,000 on August 29; $112,140 on
September 27; $147,000 on November 17; and $86,872.10 on December 14.
The document also shows that in 2012, he transferred $50,000 on
January 4; $145,000 on January 27; $7000 on January 27; $94,754.63 on
February 10; $60,000 on April 12; $70,000 on May 11; $55,000 on May 17;
$89,411.74 on June 12; $45,000 on September 6; and $45,308 on September
24; $130,000 on October 11; $77,000 on February 17; $77,000 on February
20; $70,648.44 on March 29; $70,000 on July 4; $138,000 on July 16; and
$45,000 on September 5.
Just as Mr. Saraki was making the transactions, his companies were also transferring monies to the U.S. totalling $2,099,257.00.
For instance, apart from the August 26 transfer in 2009, Carlisle
also transferred $59,964 on September 7; $99,961.30 on October 16;
$109,000 on November 11; $50,000 on August 12; and $150,000 on December
31.
In 2010, the company transferred $40,000 on April 14; $44,000 on
April 15; $134,000 on May 14; $64,000 on June 17; $40,000 on July 23;
$90,000 on August 27; $10,000 on August 30; $9,974 on August 31; $6,900
on September 1; $7,974 on September 2; $42,600 on October 5; and
$183,000 on December 6.
In 2011, it further transferred $32,000 on February 21; $30,700 on
March 17; $40,730.35 on May 5; $111,400 on June 7; $43,660 on July 18;
$48,800 on August 10; $43,000 on August 16; $25,750 on August 29;
$40,250 on August 29; $112,800 on September 26; and $150,200 on November
17.
In 2012, $146,975 on January 26; $71,000 on May 11; $5,450 on June
7; and $5,000 on December 7 were also transferred by the company.
None of the companies is currently being prosecuted. Nigerian law,
however, prevents some public officials including governors and senators
from operating a foreign account; a law Mr. Saraki is accused of
flouting.
Source: Premium Times
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