Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki's trial yesterday resumed at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) with the Federal Government's star witness, Mr Michael Wetkas, admitting that some of the evidences he tendered before the tribunal against Saraki were incomplete. Saraki is currently facing a 16- count charge of false asset declaration while he was the Governor of Kwara State.

When asked by Saraki's lawyer, Paul Usoro, SAN, to verify exhibit 20, a letter by the EFCC the Abuja Geographical Information System, AGIS, requesting for information on the property Saraki did not declare, which he tendered before the tribunal, Wetkas admitted that the commission tendered incomplete evidence. Wetkas said "I believe that in the course of administrative work and numbering some parts went missing."

At Wednesday's resumed hearing, Wetkas, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC came late, forcing the Tribunal to stand down the continuation of trial of Senate President. The Senate President had arrived at the Tribunal to the cheers of his crowd of supporters who hailed him "Oloye, Oloye," ahead of the 12 noon resumption of the trial.

But eventually when Danladi Umar entered the court room around 12.20 pm, Rotimi Jacobs, the lead prosecution counsel pleaded that the Tribunal should shift the commencement of the trial by 10 minutes as the first prosecution witness was not yet around. The Tribunal acceded to his request and stood down the case till 1pm.

Wetkas while being cross-examined said the properties located at Plot 2481 Cadastral Zone and 2482 Cadastral Zone were allegedly owned by Saraki. He also told the tribunal that the Power of Attorney of the properties was made in 1992, 10 years before Saraki became governor of Kwara. He said the Power of Attorney was issued in the name of one David Baba Akawo and Allied Properties Ltd.

He, however, admitted that Saraki name did not appear on any of the documents relating to the transactions on the property. "Even though the document came in the name of Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited, we believed that the properties belong to the defendant because the company belongs to him."

There was a mild drama when Saraki's Lead Counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), asked the court for an adjournment. The request was opposed by Jacobs, insisting that the defence had spent 10 days cross examining one witness.

However, a member of the tribunal Mr Emmanuel Atedze, urged Jacobs to be considerate and fair to the bench. He reminded Jacobs that the court had to wait additional one hour for him and his witness before they arrived.

Jacobs, however, explained that his witness had been in the box for 11 days, saying it was the longest cross examination he had ever witnessed. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, adjourned hearing in the case till June 1 for continuation of cross examination.