Last week when being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Paul Usoro, at the Tribunal, 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
Now according to Premium Times, documents obtained by them reveal that Bukola Saraki transferred a total of $3.47 million in 40 installments in four years with his credit card to the United States through GTB.
He is reported to have carried out the transactions through GTB 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.
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.
culled from Premium time.
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