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 Guaranty 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 also 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.
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It may be political but Saraki is a terribly corrupt person. The sad thing is that nothing will happen in terms of him being found guilty and sentenced
ReplyDeleteHighly Corrupt that his account number even shows he's a 419.. 😳😳
DeleteMay GOD deliver d country!
ReplyDeleteThis is terrible
ReplyDeleteThis rogue Saraki is a criminal. He should be jail to 20 to 30yrs in kirikiri. Ilorin mesu Jamba.
ReplyDeleteSaraki is a common thief. Yet he leads our Senate. So, you can imagine where the country is headed. At each court appearance his fellow thieves abandon their seats at the National hall of shame to go show their support for the accredited thief. Melaye is always in the front row, yet he is supposed to be the anti-corruption agent who has rushed to the USA several times to receive awards from his friends. This nation indeed should be very ashamed of itself.
ReplyDeleteThe only defence of Saraki so far is political persecution, I wonder if this mumu is smart, why did he allow his political enemies to expose his nakedness? He has lost respect of Nigerians by going this far. How does he think he can be respected even outside the country? Saraki do the needful, ;na only you? Your names keep popping up in illegal practices
ReplyDeleteI think we should take our destinies from these thieves called senators that are supporting saraki. let us mobilise ourselves and start giving them the beating of their lives wen they come home from their abuja and challenge them . burn them . destroy their properties and beat them and their families until they are changed
ReplyDeleteA shame! I'm actually tired of hearing people claim that Saraki's trial is politically motivated. So what? Whether his trial is political or genuinely an act of patriotic passion, fact remains: Saraki is a crook. He and his ilk MUST not be allowed ever to continue the pollution of our national life. All rogues MUST be made to pay!!
ReplyDeleteSaraki is a born thief. Nigerians must rise up to purge this nation from rogues. This country stinks from top to bottom. Our budget keep going back and forth because of criminals and rogues like saraki. This guy may not go to jail afterall. Sad
ReplyDeleteThey are wssting too much energy and resouces on the thief, he suppose to be under serious turture by now being on his way for hanging, still they are quoting stupid law over there. One day Nigeria shall impose capital purnisment on people like this.
ReplyDelete