He has been slammed by critics for representing the cops suspected to have murdered a fellow lawyer and two others. He spoke to DAVID ODONGO about his numerous expulsions in school, his divorce, controversial clients and love for Sh500,000 suits
Lawyer Cliff Ombeta said he is in a point in his career where cases come to him and some through referrals. He takes complex criminal cases and wins them, so naturally, He goes ahead to say his name is at the top of people’s minds whenever there is a tough case.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado sought the services of top criminal lawyer Cliff Ombeta after the murder of 26-year-old Rongo University student Sharon Otieno.
Lawyer Ombeta confirmed to that he was representing the interest of Governor Obado during a post-mortem examination for Sharon.
Ombeta is a seasoned criminal defense lawyer who has represented man people seeking to prove their innocence in court.
Recently, he represented Mohamud Aden, a key suspect in the attempted murder of former Garissa Finance executive Idriss Mukhtar, who claimed to have been tortured in the hands of the police.
The lawyer filed a certificate of urgency arguing that during the time Aden was in police custody, he was ferried to various places by detectives and in process beaten, tortured and treated in an inhumane, degrading and cruel manner in an attempt to make him sign a confession.
In one of the City lawyer’s successes, he represented the Akasha brothers who were released on a Ksh60 million bond after a four-month battle in court.
However, the Akasha brothers were later extradited to the United States to face drug-related charges for directing a heroin trafficking ring from Mombasa.
Ombeta also represented three Administration Police (AP) officers suspected to have a hand in the abduction and murder of a human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and cab driver Joseph Muiruri.
This gesture did not sit well with other lawyers causing an uproar and criticism which left Ombeta a man under siege as debate raged on the thin line between the call of duty and morals.