KEY POINTS:
- Migori Governor Okoth Obado is in trouble with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) who are seeking to seize his house and cars to recover Sh73.47 million lost under his watch.
- In an application filed to the High Court, EACC claims that the properties were acquired by proceeds of corruption.
- In the application to the High Court, EACC wants to attach Obado’s posh house Loresho Ridge—and luxury cars Land Cruiser V8 registration number KCK 997W and KCK 722B.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado is in trouble with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) who are seeking to seize his house and cars to recover Sh73.47 million lost under his watch.
In an application filed to the High Court, EACC claims that the properties were acquired by proceeds of corruption.
“It is therefore just and fit to prohibit the defendants, their agents, servants and/or any other persons from alienating, wasting, transferring, disposing or in any other way dealing with the properties,” EACC said through advocate Culent Simiyu Lunyolo.
In the application to the High Court, EACC wants to attach Obado’s posh house Loresho Ridge—and luxury cars Land Cruiser V8 registration number KCK 997W and KCK 722B.
“The assets aforesaid are proceeds of crime within the meaning of Section 47 Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA, 2003); Section 11(1)(j) EACC Act, 2011; and Section 2, Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2009 (POCAMLA) and are therefore liable for forfeiture to the Government,” it says.Obado’s Carhttps://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-3090077660028835&output=html&h=431&slotname=3690885348&adk=1065278704&adf=1382938560&pi=t.ma~as.3690885348&w=374&lmt=1621494666&rafmt=11&tp=site_kit&psa=1&format=374×431&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonkonews.com%2Fobado-in-trouble-as-eacc-push-to-seize-his-house-cars%2F&flash=0&wgl=1&dt=1621494666372&bpp=1&bdt=18784&idt=292&shv=r20210517&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dc8a18d148261f37b-22d10b6844c80058%3AT%3D1621358290%3ART%3D1621358290%3AS%3DALNI_MZrey8KudL31ZCcOCDCkLgj3Z12Bw&prev_fmts=0x0%2C374x431%2C414x345%2Cauto&nras=1&correlator=8121465920589&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1116841963.1621358291&ga_sid=1621494667&ga_hid=236893874&ga_fc=0&u_tz=180&u_his=18&u_java=0&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=20&ady=3391&biw=414&bih=719&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=42530672&oid=3&pvsid=1140798421173998&pem=999&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonkonews.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C719&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CoeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=3&fsb=1&xpc=unwU58L9lR&p=https%3A//www.sonkonews.com&dtd=297
EACC has not spared Obado’s children; Evelyne Adhiambo Zachary, Dan Achola Okoth, Scarlet Susan Okoth, and Jerry Zachary Okoth who are all listed as respondents in the graft case.
Jared Kwaga, whose name is all over the EACC file has been listed as the director of companies that were awarded fictitious contracts by the county government and paid millions of shillings.
“The companies were shell companies as they only existed on paper with no physical offices and employees and were all under the direct control of the sixth defendant,” the commission said.
According to the statement made by EACC, Kwaga controls 16 companies that have been in active business with Migori County.
“Financial investigations of the bank statements of accounts operated by all the 16 companies revealed a money-laundering scheme with the intent to disguise the source of the said money.
“The transactions showed huge cash withdrawals and several wire transfers from the respective bank accounts to the sixth defendant for onward transmission to the first defendant indirectly through his children and for purchase of properties,” the commission says.
Obado is thus accused of abusing his office and power to award dubious contracts that led the county to lose Sh73.47 million. All the contracts and tenders have been traced back to Obado.
Lunyolo said that Sh38.94 million was wired to Dan and Jerry for their university tuition fees and upkeep.
A portion of the cash was used to purchase the two luxury motor vehicles of Dan registered in the names of Dan and a private limited liability company.
“Investigations established that the defendants colluded and devised a scheme, to misappropriate and embezzle public funds of the County Government of Migori,” the document reads.
Last year, Obado, his children, and his wife were released after paying a bail of Sh45 million.
Obado is also still facing murder charges where. He is accused of killing Sharon Otieno, who reportedly was having an affair with the governor.
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