Chris Okemo and Samuel Gichuru win extradition case
Former Finance minister Chris Okemo (right) and former Kenya Power boss Samuel Gichuru. The Court of Appeal has granted their appeal. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The Court of Appeal has quashed extradition proceedings against former Finance Minister Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power boss Samuel Gichuru to New Jersey.
The Director of Public Prosecutions wanted the two sent New Jersey to face corruption and money laundering charges.
A court in the Channel Island issued a warrant for the duo’s arrest on April 20, 2011 and Kenya's High Court validated the extradition.
But the two challenged the move.
The Court of Appeal had temporarily stopped the extradition of Mr Gichuru and Mr Okemo after the two contested a High Court decision that allowed their transfer to the island.
Windward, Mr Gichuru’s Jersey-registered company, in February 2016 pleaded guilty to four counts of money laundering in Jersey’s Royal Court, prompting the court to issue orders to seize the £3.28 million and $540,330.69 (Sh468 million) held in the firm’s offshore account.
But Mr Gichuru disowned the guilty plea, insisting that persons unknown to him had represented Windward Trading in a court process that took only 16 days before his assets were seized.
He said that his lawyers in Jersey were not aware of the court proceedings and that he had never issued instructions to any persons to represent Windward in the Royal Court — raising questions as to who pleaded guilty to the offence.
