Indications emerged at the weekend that the Federal Government may, for the third time in a short period, amend charges pressed against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, in the false asset declaration trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Sunday Tribune gathered that the latest amendment is being sought against the background of the performance of the third prosecution witness from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Samuel Madujemo.
It will be recalled that at the commencement of the trial in October 2015, a 13-count was slammed on Saraki before the charges were amended by the prosecution team.
Sources close to the operations in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the CCB that the advice from the CCB head of investigation, Samuel Madojemo, on the case warranted the fresh moves to amend the charges before April 5, which is the adjourned date of the trial.
He was said to have testified that Saraki not only declared his assets but also made those of his wife and children available to the CCB.
Madojemo, during cross examination by Saraki’s counsel, Paul Eroko, affirmed that the Senate President actually declared his assets as required by law, adding that Saraki’s assets were recorded in the Assets Forms he submitted to the CCB at various times.
He also told the tribunal that the investigation leading to the arraignment of Saraki in 2015 was actually carried out by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with orally invitation only extended to him to join the team
He noted that his role and those of CCB were limited to the review of the EFCC’s report and compared same with the defendant’s Assets Declaration Form.
His testimony, which did not reportedly go down well with the prosecution counsel led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), made the need to further amend the charges imperative.