Ecobank Kenya Accused of Being The Money Laundering Avenue of choice For Corrupt Kenyan Judges, Judiciary Officials and Gov’t officials.
1. Judiciary.
Reports implicating Ecobank in corruption within Kenya’s judiciary have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the country’s justice and legal system and also integrity of other financial institutions.
They are certain that some judges may be using financial institutions like Ecobank to launder bribes, undermining the judiciary’s credibility and eroding public trust.
Ahmednassir Abdullahi aka Grand Mulla expressed outrage on social media stating, “This is crazy… judges owning a micro-finance bank for bribe laundering?… Even the famed Gambino Family of New York wasn’t this sophisticated.”
His remarks insinuate that some judges might have financial stakes in entities used for concealing illicit wealth.
SC Nelson Havi also criticized the alleged corruption within the judiciary, remarking that such practices are becoming more rampant.
He boldly stated, “Inevitably, this corrupt energy will soon turn into transfer season for Kenya. May the transferee be received well in hell.”
These remarks have sparked public outrage and highlighted the pressing need for accountability in the judiciary.
KMJA President Justice Stephen Radido described the attacks as “unacceptable” and warned that they could undermine the judiciary’s authority.
He emphasized that while constructive criticism is welcome, public attacks and unfounded accusations only serve to weaken public confidence in the judiciary.
Despite KMJA’s defense, the allegations have ignited a wider debate on the relationship between Kenya’s judiciary and financial institutions.
Judges accused of laundering bribes through financial institutions not only violate their professional oaths but also betray the public’s trust.
Such practices jeopardize the rule of law and cast doubt on the impartiality of judicial decisions.
The bank’s alleged involvement in unethical activities requires a thorough investigation to determine whether it has been complicit or negligent in monitoring its transactions.
The bank risks to worsen already its irreparable damage to its reputation and could face severe legal consequences.
The reports also draw attention to Chief Justice Martha Koome’s leadership.
Critics argue that under her tenure, the judiciary has failed to address corruption decisively.
Questions about her ability to lead and uphold judicial independence have intensified as such claims continue to surface.
While she has previously vowed to fight corruption within the judiciary, the persistence of these allegations suggests systemic failures that need urgent attention.
The relationship between the judiciary and financial institutions must be scrutinized closely to prevent corruption and Ecobank must serve as an example to the others.
Kenya cannot afford a compromised legal system where justice is bought and sold.
If financial institutions like Ecobank and judicial leaders such as Chief Justice Koome fail to act decisively, the credibility of Kenya’s justice system will remain under threat.
CJ Martha Koome Allegedly Tells Close Confidants She’s Ready to Resign
Chief Justice Martha Koome has said that she is ready to resign amid increased calls for her to quit over corruption, incompetency and tribalism.
This is according to a reliable source within her circle that requested to remain unanimous.
The CJ who recently claimed publicly that she was going nowhere seemed to have given up and changed her mind if the current emerging details is something to go by.
Two city advocates have been calling for her to quit over incompetence and recently one of the advocate threatened to lead protests to remove her from office.
Our investigations into her office revealed that most of her staff comes from the same native tribe( Meru community) . This has caused her critics to call for her resignations . For instance, an insider told this reporter that, the first qualification for her to either give you an appointment or an assignment is usually based on tribe.
Alleged involvement of Ecobank In Government’s Corruption Scheme.
Kenya is currently paying an extra Ksh. 40 Billion to Ecobank Nigeria and Ecobank Kenya for Line 5 Pipeline tender from Mombasa to Nairobi yet the entities were not part of the original contract as financiers of the project.
Zakhem Int. from Lebanon was awarded the 450Km Pipeline project, that cost Ksh. 48B and was funded by six banks which Ecobank wasn’t among those, with KPC covering 28% of the cost.
Ecobank is likely abetting in corrupt dealings and corruption through money laundering for such kinds of dealings.
So, they must be reminded, that the government of the day might just be in power for a season and time will reckon when a no -nonsense government will arise to power and they’ll bite their lips.
Ecobank’s Secretary Caroline Mbenge on the Run over multiple Malpractices.
EcoBank Kenya Company Secretary Caroline Mbenge is on the spot over suspicious deals at the bank, which has put the bank at risk of facing sanctions over financial irregularities.
Mbenge has also been accused of misleading the bank by working in cahoots with fraudsters to defraud a major shareholder of the bank’s client/account holder and placing the bank into disrepute.
Mbenge is allegedly engaged in fraudulent deals at the bank leading to the loss of millions of shillings by the financial institution.
According to bank statements in our possession, Mbenge has authorized the illegal withdrawal of millions of shillings belonging to clients and diverting the money to microfinance institutions in fictitious transactions.
The Legal boss is also at the center of a scandal at the bank where she refuses to comply with court orders to award litigants who’ve been awarded by the courts in legal cases against the bank.
However, Mbenge is allegedly complying with other court orders where she has cut deals to receive kickbacks from litigants who’ve won cases against the bank.
Mbenge now risks six months in jail for failing to comply with a High Court directive to release USD 487,047.99 in unpaid salaries and allowances to one of its clients, Monthida Rashi.
The bank is accused of defying a court order issued by Lady Justice J.W.W. Mong’are on December 5, 2024. The Legal Department boss has further been embroiled in a fresh scandal where a judge received a bribe of Sh200 million to influence a case in court. The judge has already been transferred in the recent shakeup by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
The High Court directed the bank to release the funds, held in one of its accounts, to Rashi, the fifth plaintiff in a long-standing financial dispute. The amount was intended to settle pending salary arrears and allowances owed to her.
Justice Mong’are explicitly ruled: “The total sum of USD 487,047.99/- be released to the 5th Plaintiff from one of the Interested Party’s Bank Accounts held at EcoBank Kenya Limited to offset her pending salaries and allowances.”
Additionally, the court allowed Rashi, as a valid account signatory, to withdraw up to USD 2,000 per month from the amount, as per a resolution passed on June 25, 2021. Despite this clear order, the bank has allegedly failed to act, prompting legal threats from the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Wilfred Nyamu.
Nyamu criticized EcoBank’s defiance, calling it a blatant disregard for the rule of law. “The CEO of EcoBank Kenya must comply within 24 hours. We have already written a letter to them,” Nyamu stated.
In a formal notice to EcoBank’s management, the plaintiffs’ legal team demanded immediate compliance: “We have noted your hesitation to comply with the orders of the court since service of the same. We are instructed to demand, which we hereby do, that you transfer the money into our client’s account as instructed within twenty-four (24) hours.”
Lawyer George Kithi, representing Kiwipay Limited, whose monies are held within EcoBank Kenya, emphasized the importance of adhering to the court order in a letter addressed to EcoBank. “Kindly purge the contempt to avoid any adverse action against yourselves,” Kithi reiterated.
The letter warned that failure to comply would result in contempt of court proceedings, potentially leading to imprisonment for EcoBank’s CEO, Caroline Mbenge, Head of Legal, and other senior officials.
The legal battle began in May 2024 when Rashi filed an application through her lawyer, requesting permission to withdraw the funds as compensation for her salary arrears.
The court’s ruling in her favor underscored the urgency of the matter. EcoBank Kenya has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
Ecobank is in a mess from all corners and its survival is in limbo.
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