EACC has petitioned to seize Nicholas Owino Ochiel’s properties and assets worth Sh1.2 billion that he allegedly obtained through corruption.
“From January 2003 to November 2018, he amassed wealth that was not proportionate to his known and legitimate sources of income.” “His legitimate income was Sh6.3 million during that time period, but he had properties and cash in accounts totalling Sh1.2 billion,” Lawyer Grace Maina explained.
According to the commission, Ochiel started as a valuer at the Ministry of Lands in 1996 and worked his way up until he was promoted to senior assistant director of valuation.
Ms Maina told the court that the public officer incorporated two companies, Ternic Valuers Limited and Ternic Enterprises Limited, and used them as conduits of corruption while conspiring with his wife Violet Terry Muthoni and brother Richard Omondi Ochiel within the time frame specified.
“He took advantage of his official position of trust in the Ministry of Lands for personal gain.” “He abused his position to benefit himself by entering into contracts with private entities for services he was employed and paid to provide at the ministry,” Maina said.
Further, EACC said they discovered that Ochiel, his wife, his brother, and their two companies amassed wealth worth Sh1,365,054,008, and when they were summoned to explain, they only justified assets worth Sh158 million, implying that the remaining Sh1,206,851,274 were obtained through graft.
The commission wants Ochiel and his associates to forfeit Sh695 million in landed properties, Sh497 million in the bank and Mpesa transactions, and Sh10.5 million in motor vehicles to the state.
The Karen residence is worth Sh80 million, an apartment block in Thome Estate is worth Sh130 million, undeveloped land in Parklands is worth Sh100 million, and a commercial building in Ugunja town in Siaya County is worth Sh190 million.
Other properties include a block of apartments in Kisumu City’s Lolwe Estate valued at Sh53 million, another block of apartments in the same estate valued at Sh55.5 million, a residential house in Nairobi’s Mirema Estate valued at Sh23 million, and a house in Kisumu valued at Sh15.5 million.
