Court Freezes Sh1.2 Billion Assets Belonging to a Senior Ministry of Lands Official

The High Court has issued injunction orders freezing assets worth over Sh1.2 billion belonging to a senior Ministry of Lands official, pending the hearing and determination of a recovery suit filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

EACC wants the court to order Nicholas Owino Ochiel, a senior director at the Ministry of Lands, to forfeit to the government unexplained assets valued at Sh1,206,851,274 which he is alleged to have acquired fraudulently between 2003 and 2018.

The agency has sued Owino along with his wife Violet Terry Muthoni Maina, his brother Richard Omondi Ochiel, and two companies associated with them, Ternic Valuers Limited and Ternic Enterprises Limited.

In documents filed in court, EACC argues that Owino’s wealth does not correspond to his known and legitimate sources of income which totaled Sh6,367,644 during the period.

Investigations revealed that Owino transacted Sh497,393,274 through his bank and MPesa and went on to acquire eight high-end properties in and around Nairobi and Kisumu cumulatively valued at Sh694,670,000. He is also said to have purchased a fleet of luxury vehicles valued at over Sh10,500,000.

EACC avers that Owino, who joined the Ministry of Lands 26 years ago as a Principal Valuer before rising through the rank, abused his official capacity to enter into contracts with private entities for services he was employed and paid to provide at the ministry.

"He is reasonably suspected of corrupt conduct by using privileged official information at the Ministry for financial gain through companies associated with him namely; Ternic Valuers Limited and Ternic Enterprises Limited thus compromising his public or official duties in favour of his personal interests," read court papers.

Owino is also accused of using his spouse Violet Terry and brother Richard Omondi as conduits to hold and conceal the said funds.

Some of the properties targeted by EACC include his home in Karen valued at Sh80 million, a house in Thome estate worth Sh130 million, flats in Parklands valued at Sh100 million and an uncompleted commercial building in Kisumu worth Sh190 million.

Others are residential property in Lolwe Kisumu worth Sh53 million, a block of flats in Lolwe estate, Kisumu (Sh55.5 million), and a house in Mirema valued at Sh23 million and three vehicles.