The Code of Conduct Tribunal has been told that there is nothing wrong with the senate president, Bukola Saraki, owning shares in companies like any other public servant.
The fourth prosecution witness in the trial, Samuel Madojemu told the tribunal that Saraki as a former governor of Kwara state was not prevented by law from owning shares in any company.
Before the fourth witness took the stand, the senate president was re-arraigned on an eighteen count charge, on false assets declaration, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Under cross examination by a counsel to Saraki, Paul Erukoro SAN, the witness who is the head of investigation unit of the code of conduct bureau , admitted that public officers are allowed to own shares in companies.
Specifically the witness said the senate president has the right to own shares In any company that trades in Rice and sugar commodities .
Under further cross examination, the witness said he has never seen any audited account of any company linked to Saraki.
The prosecution witness had earlier testified that in one of his asset forms, Saraki had claimed to have acquired properties at number 15a and 17a Macdonald streets Ikoyi Lagos from proceeds of rice and sugar commodities .
According to the witness , the senate president did not acquire the said properties from the presidential committee on sales of Federal Government properties , but from another company G and C real estate property and investment company which is also unlawful .
This he says, is contrary to his declaration in his asset declaration form
As the head of investigation into of the code of conduct bureau , the witness admitted that he never treated any letter from the senate president to the CCB and that he had no knowledge of Saraki’s handwriting other than the one on his asset declaration form .
The witness said that most of the document tendered as exhibits were obtained by the EFCC operatives and not by his own team .
The Trial has been adjourned to march the second for continuation.
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