It continues to run hard for Saraki as Bank chief discloses how he laundered money with foreign accounts

The Head of the Funds Transfer Unit of the
Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Amazi Nwachuckwu,
appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal
on Tuesday, giving details of how the Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, funded his
offshore accounts between 2009 and and 2012.
Nwachukwu, who had within the period served
at the Central Clearing and Foreign Operations
Units of the bank, appeared before the CCT as
the second prosecution witness in the ongoing
trial of Saraki on charges bordering on asset
declaration.
Saraki was the governor of Kwara State
between 2003 and 2011 after which he was
elected to the Senate.
The prosecution had alleged that the Senate
President did not declare the foreign accounts
to the Code of Conduct Bureau while being
governor and a Senator during the period.
While being led in evidence by the lead
prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN),
he said the Senate President transferred funds
to his foreign accounts between 2009 and 2012.
The witness confirmed that Saraki was keeping
dollar, pounds sterling and naira accounts
domiciled in the Ilorin, Kwara State branch of
the GTB.
He said Saraki transferred over $3m from his
dollar account to his foreign account during the
period.
He also said Saraki transferred the sum of
$73,223.28 to America Express Services Euro
Limited, New York, through their bank,
America Express Bank, New York.
He said, “Dr. Saraki filled the form in Kwara
State Government House, Ilorin.
“He gave instruction to transfer the sum of
$73,223.28 to the beneficiary America Express
Services Euro Limited, New York, through their
bank, America Express Bank, New York to
account number 730580 maintained by America
Express Service Euro Limited.
“The purpose of payment was funding for
amounts utilised on AMEX (American Express)
cards issued to the customer (dollar credit card
no. 374588216836009).
“For his dollar account number
441/441953/2/1/0, the customer signed the fund
transfer form. The form was received from the
account officer in Ilorin branch. We then
processed it and transferred it to our
corresponding bank abroad.
“The corresponding bank then transferred it
America Express Bank Limited.”
He said the transfer was for the “funding for
amount utilised on the payment cards issued to
Saraki.”
He said the former Kwara State Governor
transferred the total sum of £1,526,194.53 from
his pounds sterling account to his Fortis Bank,
London account in three instalments within
two days on February 15 and 16, 2010.
He also said the GTB also offered a N375m loan
to Saraki through a letter dated February 10,
2010.
According to the witness, Saraki instructed GTB
to transfer the pounds sterling equivalent of the
loan to fund mortage on a London property.
He said, “In Exhibit 7 is a letter dated February
10, 2010.
In the 14th out of the 16 counts preferred
against the Senate President, Saraki was said to
have failed to declare his interest in “an
American Express Service Card with No:
374588216836009 wherein you (Saraki)
transferred huges sums of money in dollars
from your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary
account No441441953210 in Nigeria to the
American Express Service, Europe, whilst you
Executive Governor of Kwara State.”
The offence is said to be contrary to section 15
of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal
Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under
paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o the Fifth
Schedule to the Constitution.
It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of
the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act
as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of
the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution. 

Alabatvnews.