It seems like this week was a blessed and a good one for Migori governor Okoth Obado. The Migori county chief did not just get to host the deputy President and witness a number of development projects commissioned in his yard, he is also going to smile to the bank.
This is after the High Court unfroze one of the accounts believed to be a proxy used by him to siphon over Sh2 billion through manipulation of the county’s procurement system.
Anti-corruption court judge Hedwig Ong’udi ordered that an account operated by businessman Ernest Omondi be freed after nearly seven months of being iced.
Mr Omondi had filed an application seeking unfreezing of his Equity Bank, Migori branch, account which had Sh19 million balance when EACC detectives obtained freeze orders in December, last year.
The businessman is among 10 individuals and companies believed to have made over Sh2 billion through Migori County tenders before wiring some proceeds back to Mr Obado and his family.
The alleged Obado proxies had separately filed applications seeking unfreezing of their bank accounts. Rulings on the other applications are still pending before Justice Ong’udi.
Other respondents in the suit are Jared Oluoch Kwaga, Joram Opala Otieno, Patroba Ochanda Otieno, Hellen Adhiambo Odie, Beatrice Akinyi Ogutu, Kennedy Odhiambo Akello, Janto Construction, Marowa Stores, and Mbingo Enterprises.
EACC detectives have unearthed 32 companies they say Mr Obado used as proxies for procurement, and 77 pieces of land and other assets that were bought using proceeds of the scheme.
Detectives say that through the procurement scam, Mr Obado was able to build a home worth Sh100 million in Uriri in Migori County and send at least Sh13 million to his children.
The EACC has been investigating procurement at Migori County since last September.
Do you think Obado will survive EACCs onslaught?