CCT Trial: Saraki flies in experts from US, Israel

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, appears set for his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), following the decision of his legal team to fly in experts on evidence from the United States (US) and the State of Israel.

Sources close to the Senate President told the Nigerian Tribune that the Senate President had side stepped the touted “soft landing” option, said to have been proposed to him by some chieftains of his party, adding that he had decided to take on his accusers at the CCT trial.

It was gathered that Saraki had decided to tackle squarely the suit filed against him by the Federal Government over his asset declaration forms when he served as Kwara State governor.

Sources said Saraki had already flown in a group of experts in evidence from the US and the State of Israel and one of the Scandinavian countries, to provide what was described as “specialised services” to his legal team, being led by Chief Kanu Agabi.

It was further gathered that though some of the experts were not lawyers, they were expected to provide good insights and analyses of the evidence being adduced against the Senate President, as well as probe into the character of the witnesses.

A source said that the experts were “crack investigators”, as well as forensic and handwriting specialists, adding that they would help the Saraki team get information on the witnesses and documents that would be presented at the Tribunal.

“The experts started arriving on Monday and they have had some preliminary meetings with the legal team in Lagos. They will be moving to Abuja ahead the resumption of the trial,” a source said.

Another source told the Nigerian Tribune: “The investigators will ferret out and scrutinise thoroughly all available information on the eight prosecution witnesses, including their school records, service records from their past and present places of employment and personal information that may help the defence team in the course of the trial. Most of those so-called witnesses will not be credible when information concerning their life is presented publicly before the Tribunal.

“It is also expected that with the fear that the prosecution may present forged documents, our team needs to be vigilant and proactive, considering the manner in which the proceedings before the tribunal is being conducted. Our people believe that with the way properties that have nothing to do with Saraki are being put on the charge sheet, there are tendencies that documents to sustain their claims may have been forged. All these, the experts will screen and help the lawyers with information that may help the defence team.”

It was also gathered that the CCT had listed some of the witnesses in the suit to include Michael Wetcas, Nura Ali Bako, Mustapha Abubakar Musa, Nwachukwu Amasu, Samuel Madojemin, Adamu Garba and Bayo Dauda ( a staff of a new generation bank).

Many of the witnesses were said to have been drawn from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).