Nathif Jama hits out at EACC over account with billions

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama displays the copy of the Sunday Nation that indicated his account had been frozen. He said he does not own the account. He was addressing his supporters at Garissa Primary on July 2, 2017, where he launched his re-election campaign. PHOTO | ABDIMALIK HAJIR | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • EACC believes the money was fraudulently transferred from the county government of Garissa.
  • First Community was served with the orders on Friday afternoon through its Wabera Street Branch.

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has come out strongly to deny that he owns a bank account containing Sh5.2 billion, which the High Court froze to allow the anti-graft agency to probe the matter.

Governor Jama also termed the revelation as propaganda.

"I have talked to [the] bank manager and chief executive [officer] and they told me that they are also wondering why [an] institution such as EACC can use fictitious or accept fabricated information," he said.

CREDIBILITY

Speaking at Garissa Primary on Sunday, Mr Jama accused the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of being exploited by people who do not want to see him re-elected.

He added that it is unfortunate that the credibility of a state agency can be compromised.

"I want to tell Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission that you have taken sides in Garissa County politics and from tomorrow [Monday], I’m going to seek legal advice on how to proceed on this matter."

FRAUD ACCUSATION

On Friday, Justice Lydia Achode ordered the account be frozen for six months so that the EACC can scrutinise transactions amounting to Sh5.2 billion over the last four years.

According to court filings, EACC believes the money, which is held in Mr Jama’s account in Nairobi’s South C branch of the First Community Bank, was fraudulently transferred from the county government of Garissa.

"The respondent, by himself or through his agents or servants, be and is hereby prohibited from transferring, disposing of, wasting, or in any other way dealing with First Community Bank Ltd South C branch (account number withheld) for a period of six months," Justice Achode ruled.

The matter will be heard on July 30, 2017.

POLITICAL ENEMIES

First Community was served with the orders on Friday afternoon through its Wabera Street Branch.

Mr Jama launched his re-election campaign Sunday, and thus said the timing was questionable.

"They have seen that the numbers are not adding up for them. They have calculated day and night and have seen it’s not possible and that is why they are looking for any possible way to frustrate me," he said.

Present at the launch was Kitui Governor Julius Malombe and Garissa deputy governor Abdullahi Hussein.