There will be unease in paradise for an assistant director for valuation at the Ministry of Lands after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission obtained orders freezing his assets worth Sh1.2 billion.
High Court Judge Esther Maina issued the orders stopping Nicholas Ochiel, his wife Terry Muthoni, his brother Richard Omondi and their two companies from dealing with the properties spread across Nairobi, Kisumu, Siaya and Kajiado, until the suit by EACC is concluded.
“Pending the hearing and determination of the application, the court issues an order restraining the respondents, their agents, servants or any other persons from selling, transferring, charging, leasing or in any other way alienating the listed properties,” Justice Maina said.
The 17 properties registered in Mr Ochiel’s name frozen by the judge include a house in Karen worth Sh80 million, an undeveloped land in Parklands worth Sh100 million and a commercial building in Ugunja town, Siaya County, valued at Sh190 million.
Others are two apartment blocks in Lolwe Estate in Kisumu City valued at Sh109 million, a residential home within the Lakeside city valued at Sh15.5 million, and plots in Nairobi, Kajiado and Siaya.
His wife Ms Muthoni had four properties frozen that include an apartment block in Thome Estate valued at Sh130 million, a five-bedroom house in Mirema Estate in Nairobi worth Sh23 million, five acres in Kisumu and half an acre in Nairobi.
Justice Maina also stopped the couple from disposing of their vehicles valued at Sh10.5 million and another piece of land in Nairobi registered in their company’s name.
EACC sues
The EACC on Friday last week sued Mr Ochiel, saying he has amassed massive wealth which is not commensurate with his legitimate sources of income.
EACC through lawyer Grace Maina said between January 2003 and November 2018, Mr Ochiel’s legitimate income totalled Sh6.3 million but he had properties and cash in the account within that period totalling Sh1.2 billion.
According to the commission, Mr Ochiel was first employed at the Ministry of Lands as a valuer in 1996 and rose through the ranks until he was promoted to a senior assistant director of valuation.
Within the stated period, lawyer Maina told the court the public officer incorporated two companies, Ternic Valuers Limited and Ternic Enterprises Limited, and used them as conduits of corruption while colluding with his wife and brother.
“He exploited his official position of trust in the ministry of lands for his private gain. He took undue advantage of his position to confer benefit to himself by entering into contracts with private entities for services he was employed and paid to provide at the ministry,” said lawyer Maina. EACC says it discovered Mr Ochiel, his wife, brother and their two companies accumulated wealth worth Sh1,365,054,008 and when they were summoned to explain, they only justified assets worth Sh158 million which meant the balance of Sh1,206,851,274 was acquired through graft.
The commission wants Mr Ochiel and his associates compelled to forfeit to the state properties worth Sh695 million, money transacted through bank and M-Pesa totalling Sh497 million and motor vehicles worth Sh10.5 million.
“We established that he illegally acquired the assets when he entered into contracts with property development companies, organisations and members of the public to facilitate valuation, payment of government stamp duty, title processing and purportedly conducting forensic audit services,” the lawyer said.
Ms Maina said the official used privileged official information at the ministry to blackmail people for financial gain and incorporated his wife and brother as conduits of the corrupt practices to conceal sources of his massive wealth.
There's no story that cannot be told. We cover the stories that others don't want to be told, we bring you all the news you need. If you have tips, exposes or any story you need to be told bluntly and all queries write to us [email protected] also find us on Telegram
