DPP opposes reopening of Pastor Ezekiel Odero’s bank accounts

NAIROBI - Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has opposed the reopening of 28 bank accounts belonging to controversial Kilifi Pastor Ezekiel Odero, saying they are probing leads into money laundering.

Through Senior Assistant DPP Virgina Kariuki, Haji urged Milimani Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi not to vary his orders freezing Pastor Ezekiel’s accounts and his seven M-Pesa lines until the High court in Mombasa delivers its ruling on the matter.

Kariuki, while objecting to an attempt by the pastor’s lawyers to unfreeze his bank accounts, stated that they obtained the orders “with clean hands “as they were not aware of the matter lodged by the pastor at the High Court in Mombasa.

She said police are investigating the accounts to establish the source of the funds and whether they are proceeds of crime.

“We want to know the source of the funds. That is why we are here. The judge stated that the ruling will be issued on Monday. We were not aware they had moved to Shanzu court,” she said.

Kariuki urged the magistrate to await the outcome of the High Court case, noting that superior court decisions supersede pronouncements by subordinate courts.

The preacher, through his lawyers Danstan Omari, Sam Nyaberi and Cliff Ombeta, protested against the DPP request to await the outcome of the High Court case, saying the current freeze orders have grounded the operations of the New Life Church and Kilifi International School.

Omari told the magistrate to unfreeze the accounts of the school claiming that over 3, 000 children that the preacher support and feeds are suffering due to lack of funds.

The Kilifi-based preacher moved to court on Monday saying the freeze orders obtained by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had resulted in hardships and catastrophic effects.