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.
Comments (19)
Freeze RUTO's and RIGGY G's too. Wezi wote Wachukuliwe Hatua.
@ PPPian, despite my dissenting views on many of your comments,on this one we are in agreement. Some of you may remember that a poll was conducted about 7 years ago,and the results found out that Ruro and Waiguru were the most corrupt individuals in Kenya.
If we truly believe that nobody is above the law,these two should also be investigated by the Ethics,and Anti corruption unit,and also have the answer to how they got all these enormous wealth on their salaries.I believe investigation is going on in regards to Gachagua's enormous wealth...
EACC is the only entity in Kenya which works although slow like tortoise but the results are phenomenal....the question is who watches they staff?
He looks like a criminal
🤣🤣🤣To paraphrase Yoda "looks make not one a criminal". Your lack of faith in his looks is disturbing
It is a sister (Seneca) to a perceived criminal luo just taking a swipe because her criminal brother married a Muthoni…
Now Seneca is disowning her own thieving simply because he is married to a Kikuyu woman. Jealousy or what the hell is this shit @Seneca?? Just find a kikuyu guy to mauled your twap to make you happy!!
In ten years, the House of Kenya will be squeaky clean of corruption and impunity!!! Let’s go Bill …
Not with Mashamba😁 Arap Title Deeds and his ShambaBoy RIGGY G.
Wewe njinga na kubafu! Mafi ya kuku na punda!
"The agency has sued Owino along with his wife Violet Terry Muthoni Maina". There is a likelihood Muthoni was the brains behind the creation of this wealth whether legal or illegal.
That makes Sense.
Its the small fish that get hunted the big fih like those in parliament are left to eat their root. This guy should have funded Kenya Kwisha then things would be different. Play the politics of the day if you not mighty till you build it. Calls for wisdom .Why Ruto and Gachagua graft allegations solemnly talked of?
Kenya kwisha ni Kaswende mtupu.
Why not start with Uhuru’s loot of shs 1.5t which was exposed by CBK governor,Njoroge?
Njoroge is the worst thief of them all. You too menye you are a conman!! Are you still car jacking folks along Nairobi and Nakuru road at Naivasha area?? Wewe wii Shaitani!!
Nicholas Owino was doing exactly what all the top brass were doing.
When you want to kill a snake, you chop the head off, not the tail.
Fool, he should have kept the money in the mattress. Now he's going to lose it.
Fool, he should have kept the money in the mattress. Now he's going to lose it.