Confusion enveloped the prosecution team in the ongoing CCT trial of Senate president Bukola Saraki on Wednesday when the lead prosecution witness, Micheal Wetkas told the court that investigation on Charge 11 of Saraki’s trial has not been concluded.
The revelation, which created controversy in court, came after a rigorous cross-examination by the defense counsel Paul Usoro, SAN.
Usoro had asked the prosecution witness Micheal Wetkas if he obtained the opening package for Saraki’s alleged foreign account before arriving at a conclusion in his investigation. Wetkas who also admitted that he never met the defendant Bukola Saraki, has never seen a credit card and doesn’t know what it looks like, said in open court that obtaining documents in relation to the opening package of the bank account was a difficult process.
When asked again to state categorically with what evidences he arrived at his findings, Wetkas, under the heat of cross-examination pressure said he was convinced that the defendant committed the offence in the charge.
Responding to the witness, Saraki’s counsel Usoro said no one was interested in how convinced the prosecution witness was. “My question is easy. Did you during the course of your investigation get an account opening package? You’re a prosecution witness. We need the facts”, Usoro said.
“I said in the course of my investigations, I had facts to prove that the account exists. I have the conviction that money moved from this account”, Wetkas answered.
“We are not interested in how convinced you are. Where are the facts? Incidentally, you are not the one who will pass the sentence!”, Usoro fired back.
Responding again, Wetkas said: “I said there are difficulties in obtaining details of the foreign account opening package. Obtaining details of the foreign account-opening package will require diplomatic cooperation.”
“So you didn’t get the documents of the account opening package. Correct?”, Usoro asked.
“We have contacted the foreign missions. Investigation is still ongoing”, Wetkas replied to the astonishment of the court.
“Ongoing? Ohooo…”, Usoro exclaimed.
Members of the audience could be heard, murmuring and asking why the defendant was on trial while investigations by the prosecution were inconclusive and still ongoing.
The CCT Chairman thereafter adjourned the case till tomorrow Thursday April 21, 2016.
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