CCT Trial: Saraki Flies in Experts from US, Israeli
Senate President Bukola Saraki has flown in experts from the United States and Israel to team up with his counsel led by Chief Kanu Agabi SAN in his determination to overcome his current trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for alleged false declaration of assets,
It was also gathered that the experts are not lawyers but crack investigators, forensic and handwriting specialists with the mandate to provide information on witnesses and documents presented at the tribunal by the prosecution.
The experts who were said to have arrived in Nigeria (Lagos) last Monday, would leave Lagos for Abuja to commence operations soon.
A source who disclosed this today explained that the information to be provided by the experts would assist Saraki's legal team.
"The investigators will ferret out and scrutinise thoroughly all available information on the eight prosecution witnesses, including their school records, service records from their past and present places of employment and personal information that may help the defence team in the course of the trial. Most of those so-called witnesses will not be credible when information concerning their life is presented publicly before the Tribunal.
"It is also expected that with the fear that the prosecution may present forged documents, our team needs to be vigilant and pro-active considering the manner in which the proceedings before the tribunal is being conducted.
"Our people believe that with the way properties that have nothing to do with Saraki are being put on the charge sheet, there are tendencies that documents to sustain their claims may have been forged. All these the experts will screen and help the lawyers with information that may help them,"he said.
The list of witnesses lined up against Saraki are said to be staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).
ln a related development, Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaboshi, yesterday said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus would not support the emergence of an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator as the next Senate President if eventually Saraki loses at the Code of Coduct Tribunal (CCT).
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