The Federal Government on Thursday closed its case in the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Abuja, over alleged false and anticipatory declaration of his assets.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, counsel to the Federal Government, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), announced that the prosecution had closed its case after calling four witnesses and tendered several documents to establish a case of false assets declaration against the Senate President.
Saraki, through his counsel, Paul Paul Erokoro (SAN), told the Tribunal that he will file a no-case submission in the false assets declaration charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
The Senate President said he will need the complete record of proceedings  since 2015 when the trial started to enable him make his no-case submission in line with the provisions of the law.
Jacobs, who has led the prosecution team since the trial commenced did not object to the announcement of the defendant to file a no-case submission on the ground that it is the defendant’s right to do so.
Jacobs however pleaded with the Tribunal to direct the defence to file the application for no-case submission in good time to avoid delay in the matter, since the matter had dragged since 2015.
Danladi Yakubu Umar, who headed the two-member panel of the Tribunal, after consultation with parties in the matter, fixed June 8, 2017 for the presentation of the no-case submission and adoption of written addresses expected to be filed and exchanged by parties in the matter.
Earlier, the fourth prosecution witness, Bayo Dauda told the  Tribunal that the document allegedly used for the foreign transactions by Saraki were not in possession of the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.
The witness, who came from the bank to tender some documents and give evidence, informed the Tribunal that all efforts to locate the documents were unsuccessful because the transactions took place long time ago.
Besides, the witness further said that he had no address of any property bought in London by Saraki with the alleged foreign remittances, but however admitted that Saraki, like any other customer, took loans three times from the bank to purchase properties and that the loans had been re-payed in line with terms of the loan agreement.
The witness informed the Tribunal that Saraki, apart from not defaulting in the payment of the three loans also complied with other terms which included the submissions of the tittle documents of the properties purchased with the loans to the bank.
Daudu further stated that Saraki also had a comprehensive insurance on the properties acquired with the loans.
The Federal Government is prosecuting Saraki since 2015 on charges bordering on false and improper declaration of assets allegedly acquired when the Senate President held sway as Governor of Kwara State from 2003-2011.
The Senate President had pleaded not guilty to the entire charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
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