Crime News
Saraki Stole $6Million Dollars In 4 Years, Wired $3.4M To American Express Bank In New York
April 5, 2016 – Bukola Saraki Stole Over $6Million Dollars From Kwara State Nigeria Between 2009 & 2013, Wired $3.4 Million To American Express Bank In New York – EFCC Prosecution Witness Tells Court
Senate President Saraki’s trial at the CCT (Code of Conduct Tribunal) got underway today after several attempts to halt it.
His false asset declaration trial took place in Abuja today with the first prosecution witness, Mr Michael Wess giving evidence.
Wess is the Principal Detective Superintendent of the EFCC. He said his schedule of duties is the investigation of cases assigned him by his superiors.
He acknowledged that the defendant was governor of central Nigerian state of Kwara between 2003 to 2011.
After his tenure, the Commission received several petitions from different groups. One of the groups was Kwara Freedom Network which wrote several petitions accusing Saraki of abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
The petitions were assigned various groups for investigation. He said in 2014, the former EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde received an intelligence information related to the defendant.
On the basis of the information, Lamorde set of a team of three investigators headed by him, Chris Odofin and Nura Bako.
The team was tasked to investigate the intelligence report. The report was reviewed by the team and in the course of investigation, it was discovered that there are several companies linked to the defendant. Carlisle Property and Investment Company Limited; Skyview Property Ltd; Lin. Tiny Tee Limited and several other companies.
Some of the companies maintained accounts in GTB, Zenith Bank, Intercontinental Bank, now part of Access Bank and other banks. It was also discovered that the defendant maintained three accounts with GTB- in naira, dollars and pounds sterling.
The accounts were analysed in the course of the investigation. In the naira account, it was discovered that between 2005 and 2013, the account had total inflow and outflow of N4 billion.
The major source of inflow of income into the account was discovered to be loans taken from GTB. The loan inflow into the account was N2.5 billion.
Other sources of inflow was massive lodgement of cash by individuals. Some inflow came from Carlisle Property and Investment Ltd.
It was also discovered that inflow into the account was for purchase of property.
Analysis of the dollar account showed that the major source of inflow was from Carlisle Properties which was over two million dollars.
Another source of inflow was from BDCs and cash lodgements by individuals.
The total turnover of the dollar account between 2009 and 2013 was over six million dollars. It was discovered that up to $3.4 million dollars inflow into the account was wired to American Express Services Europe Limited which was used to fund the defendants American Express Service Card.
The other part of the fund in the dollar account was changed into 1.5 million pound sterling and wired to UK through Fortis Bank for purchase of property.
From the telex transfer we have and through the confession of the bank, it was suggested that the account belonged to the defendant.
Because of the suspicious nature of inflow into the account, the bank was invited because some of the individuals making cash lodgement into the account were officials of GTB.
One Oluwakodimu reported to the Commission. From our interaction, we discovered that the money lodged into the account was given to him by his superior, Bayo Abdulraheem Dauda who was the relationship manager of the account. Our interaction with Dauda showed that
the cash sums were handed to him by the defendant.
He said he used to be called to Kwara State Government House, Ilorin to collect the cash. He then lodged the account in GTB, GRA Ilorin branch. From the lodgement in the account, we discovered that one Ubi on a single day made five lodgements of N77 million in cash.
We also discovered another name, Abdul Adama who on a single day made 50 lodgements into the account of between 600,000 to 900,000 on the same day.
Shortly after that, Ubi again made lodgement over 20 times in the same range of N600,000 to N900,000.
We invited Adama and he said the cash sums were also handed to him by the defendants and said the sum that was lodged by Ubi in the same account must have been given to him by him. Both of them were PAs to the defendant and Adama said Ubi was working under him.
After a while, the pattern of lodgement changed though still in the range of 600,000 to N900, 000, but different individuals were making the same lodgement in large numbers in the same day.
Further investigations revealed that those individuals were fictitious. The investigation took up the matter with GTB officials, but they said they have done the needful, that is by drawing a report and forwarding it to NFIU. They provided evidence to that effect.
We submitted our investigation report and based on that stated that since there are other teams investigating other petitions related to the defendant, we should harmonise our investigations.
He said Ibrahim Lamorde also recalled that there was a joint team formed in 2006 made up of Code of Conduct Bureau, DSS and EFCC officials. He therefore called the official who represented EFCC in that team-one Mr. Adamu Garba to join our investigation team.
So, all the findings were harmonised and sent to the Legal Department for advice. The Legal Department later informed me that they conferred with Federal Ministry of Justice on the matter and that the Ministry directed that the matter to referred to the CCB and that a joint team of CCB and EFCC be established to conclude the issues and findings in the investigations.
One Mr Samuel Madojeni and Samuel Yahya of CCB were directed to join our team by CBB. They now furnish the team with assets declaration forms filled and submitted by the defendant between 2003 and 2011. We analysed the forms together with CCB officials.
When we discovered that there were a lot of lodgements into the account of Carlisle Property and Investment Ltd, we invited the MD and one Mr Kennedy Sule Izuagbe reported to the Commission.
From our interaction with him, it was discovered that all the transactions in the account of Carlisle | were directed by the defendant.
We requested that Izuagbe furnish us with all the details of property managed by Carlisle Property and Investment Ltd because it was discovered that the major source of inflow into Carlisle Property was rent from their various tenants. So, he was asked to furnish the Commission with the list of those properties, but from that day, he went underground. All efforts to get him proved abortive.
The Commission said Mr Izuagbe should be declared wanted which we did. Left with no option, the investigating team obtained duly signed search warrant which was used to search the office of Carlisle Property on No 30, Saka Tinubu, VI Lagos.
There, the team recovered documents containing a list of properties yielding income to the defendant. It shows that some of the properties were purchased from the Presidential Implementation Committee for Sale of Landed Assets.
Some were bought from CBN. So, we have to write the Land Registry of Abuja, Lagos and also wrote the CBN.
The properties formed part of the properties in the document analysed by the combined team and from the holistic analysis, some infractions were observed in the forms. It was discovered that a property known as 15 McDonald Ikoyi Lagos which was purchased through Tiny Tee Ltd was not disclosed in the form.
We also discovered that 17and 17A Macdonald were bought for N497 million in 2006. The defendant filled the property in his form and said he bought it through sale of rice and sugar. But investigations revealed that the property was acquired through loan taken from the GTB.
The loans were repaid by cash lodgements made by individuals. We also discovered another property at 2A Glover Road Ikoyi.
It was bought for N325 million between 2007 and 2008 from CBN. The property was not declared by the defendant at the end of his tenure in 2011. The property was purchased in the name of Carlisle Property and Investment Ltd. The defendant disclosed Carlisle as his company in the Assets Declaration Form.
We also discovered another property, No 37A, Glover Road, Ikoyi Lagos which yields N5.5 million annually to the defendants through the documents recovered through the search warrant.
Our investigation revealed that the property was not disclosed in the Assets declaration form.
We also discovered another property known as either no 1 or 2482 Tagus Street, Maitama Abuja which was purchased from one Baba Akano in 1991 or thereabout. This property was bought at the same time with the formation of company Carlisle Property Ltd, but was never disclosed in his assets declaration form in 2003, 2007 and 2011.
We also discovered that a loan of N375 million was taken from GTB for purchase of property in London when the defendant was governor.
We looked out for the property in his assets declaration form, but we couldn’t find. He neither disclosed the loan or the property.
We also discovered that while he was in office, he maintained an Express Bank Account with American Express Bank in New York.
[SOURCE]
Salewa Ijogun
April 5, 2016 at 7:04 PM
This crooks should be arrested. He is a criminal
Black Stone
April 5, 2016 at 8:26 PM
Only in Nija will a known criminal become a Senate president – What a shame / criminals in position of power .
Black Stone
April 5, 2016 at 8:28 PM
Only in Nigeria will a known criminal becomes the Senate President – What a shame and still refuse to resign
fifelomo
April 5, 2016 at 8:30 PM
Awwwwww Saraki your are FINISHED! Come, hope you realise that all these are mere wordly things? Non will be buried with you. Vanity upon vanity…….selfish human being. Mchew, chai!
Metu Nyetu
April 5, 2016 at 8:51 PM
Saraki is a big FOOL! I rest my case.
Bench
April 5, 2016 at 8:59 PM
Saraki, your village pipul is oredy wait for you. But bifor you are go village, you are goes into prison for 30 years ago. When you are come out, na village is where you go. Na rabbit and bush rat you go de poshuu for bush. D Hunter go teach you how he is take catch animals for bush so that hungry is not killing you.
Bench
April 5, 2016 at 8:59 PM
Saraki, your village pipul is oredy wait for you. But bifor you are go village, you are goes into prison for 30 years ago. When you are come out, na village is where you go. Na rabbit and bush rat you go de poshuu for bush. D Hunter go teach you how he is take catch animals for bush so that hungry is not killing you.
Omokehinde
April 5, 2016 at 9:01 PM
My people, is high time that we come together, think, and reason together above our political affliates, tribes, religion, and language. Can someone tell me how a nation like ours can move forward to benefit the masses when looters, wicked politicians, heartless ditactors, criminals, and vagabonds are those minding our affairs at both local, state, and federal levels? For over 35 years,we have been so unfortunate, unlucky, and caused by the calibers of leaders we’ve had. Ten months ago, we finally elected a true leader who is truly willing to change our story for good. But he himself was not that lucky. Why? PMB inherited from president Jonathan an economy at the brink of total collapse, he was handed over a bankruptcy economy where majority of the states are unable to pay the salaries of their workers; he inherited a nation at war with terrorists called Boko Haram that have killed thousands of Ngerians than any time since the end of Nigerian civil war, he inherited an economy with falling oil prices from $150/barrel just 2 years ago to a sharp drop at $28/barrel. The combined 35 years of damage done to Nigeria by Obasanjo, IBRAHIM Badamosi Babangida, Sanni Abacha, Abudulsalam Abubakar, Obasanjo again, and the dumbest of all-president Jonathan can not be undo by the finest saint in four or eight years. The president is working hard to get the desired results for us, but we must be patient because to build or rebuild require time, planning, resources, money, good managers, and a pathrotic leaders. We must open our eyes and mind, stand up against corruption and economic injustice of our evil politicians, and support PMB efforts to restore Nigerian from 35 years of self inflicted suffering, hardship, and setbacks.
olutoyin
April 5, 2016 at 10:12 PM
this is a political witch hunting not a fight against corruption. and this is machinated by some politician which see saraki as a threat in 2019 and beyond. readers let be mindful of our comment.
Sam
April 6, 2016 at 1:53 AM
How can you explain the allegation against him, the lies and money acquired illegally during his tenure. People you need to be wise, the future of your kids are at stake here. Shun Corruption!
Metu Nyetu
April 6, 2016 at 8:37 AM
@Olutoyin, whether it is political witch-hunting or not, the amount of money that is mentioned here is staggering. Let Saraki be held. I may not like that Buhari concentrates on his perceived foes, but if sweeping these looters is the only thing he achieved in his tenure, I would be satistied.
ade eagle
April 5, 2016 at 10:17 PM
let the corrupt bastards die in prison simple
Olanrewaju
April 5, 2016 at 10:40 PM
Let’s wait and see the end of his trial
Tee
April 5, 2016 at 11:43 PM
@Olutoyin abi esutoyin. So, what you’re saying is that Saraki is a good man and worthy of becoming the president in 2019. Your children are in trouble, sorry, I meant Naija is in trouble if your seeds live amongst us. You and your type should be cut off from the roots. Omo Iran kiran.solidarity with a thief means you’re a thief. And you are happy that a thief that had stole our money, is your senate president for the next 4 years, to continue stealing our money!Shame on your parents and your children if you have any.
Tee
April 5, 2016 at 11:47 PM
@Toyin I’m sure Panama is part of the witch hunting group too. Look, OBJ, Thiefnubu, IBB and all politicians are thieves. We are not weighing their sin, but judgement to be served. So let whoever is caught pay for their sins.A man looted the government in this case his state government and he is being ask to account for it and you are calling it persecution abi witch hunt. You are truly enemy of progress and Nigeria. Awon ebi ole!
Victoria A
April 5, 2016 at 11:52 PM
Lord have mercy saraki what are u going to do with all this money?
sola olaniyi
April 6, 2016 at 8:12 AM
OMG…This man don finish Nigeria o
olutoyin
April 6, 2016 at 12:23 PM
tee. you need to be careful of your utterances. this is a simple calculation which no need a prophet to solve for you. Nigerians would have been very glad if saraki was trial by either EFCC or ICPC. tea or what do you call your name, let me recall you when saraki was governor of kwara state he liberate kwara in all ramifications. which was excellent by kwarans as the best governor kwara has ever produce. in terms of infrastructure, industries establishing of kwara state university and the host of others. saraki was now persecuted because of his emergence as the senate president on against the party wish or one leader who was planning to have Nigeria in is wallet. Tea and bread or how can I address you need to be call and teach about the politics of Nigeria. if you are current with saraki case you would have know that is a persecution not prosecution. that was the reason why is colleague in the upper chamber give vote of confidence on him three times which has never happen in the history of Nigeria Democratic system. I sincerely belief that the supreme being would vindicate him because he has not for once support the past administration led by Jonathan in theft of our country treasury and no traceable of corruption during the administration.
now you are coming with a tag “FALSE DECLARATION OF ASSET” for about 13 yes ago because of his assumption to the post of Senate president against the party wish. this is injustice.
Tea can you tell me among all public holder who can come out and say I am clear with cct. Tea or what do you call your name sit down and give room for your low thinking faculty to migrate to the highest level of thinking,so that when next time you are to submit idea yours would have been the best to reckon with. God bless Nigeria
Omokehinde
April 6, 2016 at 8:54 PM
Hello Toyin,
I know for sure that you cannot be among over 170 millions Nigerians living in abject poverty today and write or comments in the that manner. I want to believe that you are a core supporter of criminal Olushola Saraki because you might have benefited from his or his associates loots. You falsely claimed that Saraki is considered the best governor in Kwara state. I have no idea where you got that claim from or how you came up with that ridiculous lie. If Saraki was that popular in Kwara state as you have claimed, why are his people throwing stones at him at the prayer ground in Kwara just last year. In case you did not remember, he was smuggled with the help of police and his security detail from the prayer field last year. You also said that noNE of our politician is clear, so for that reason alone we should pity your hero and let him continue to loot us dry as our Senate President. Have you forgotten about thousands of former customers of the default Societal Banks that Saraki headed as the MD. In case you don’t know or pretend not to know, thousands of customers lost their entire savings and assets as a result of mismanagement of your hero-Saraki. Your argument is meaningless and ridiculous because Saraki is an APC member who won is senate bid on APC platform last year. The issue of witch hunting is baseless, ridiculous, and highly unpatriotic. The probing of Looters must continue regardless of their tribes, religion, culture,language or party affliations. Shame on you Toyin for your ridiculous response and initial posting. If we must have a country that benefits all Nigerians and not the very few politicians/looters, their friends, and families, then we must support the ongoing probing of any looters who can’t jutisfy their corrupt wealth at the expense of millions of suffering Nigerian people.
Maryf
April 6, 2016 at 1:14 PM
They should jail him immediately, criminals are meant to be resting their heads in prison not resting on soft and smooth bed in a nice room.
Amazon
April 6, 2016 at 6:26 PM
What’s the government & EFCC waiting for, they should go straight to American Express Bank & rewire back the money into Nigeria account except they want to play us ojoro