Court froze accounts linked to Sonko, Gazette notice reveals
John Otini
High Court judge Mumbi Ngugi froze two bank accounts of companies associated with embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and ordered seizure of nine vehicles, the latest Gazette notice shows.
The Gazette notice lists Hardi Enterprises Ltd, Toddy Civil Engineering Company, Anthony Ng’ang’a Mwaura, and Rose Njeri Ng’ang’a as first, second, third and fourth respondents, respectively.
“Preservation Orders prohibiting the first and second respondents and/or its representatives, employees, agents, servants or any other persons acting on their behalf from transacting, withdrawing, transferring, and/ or dealing in any manner howsoever in respect of funds,” read Gazette Notice Vol. CXXII—No. 42.
Temporary orders
The vehicles include Mercedes Benz, Lexus LX450, Loyota Hilux, Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Navara, Nissan Qashqai.
Justice Ngugi issued temporary orders to preserve Sh1.5 million held at an account in Equity Bank and Sh6.9 million held at Sidian Bank run by Hardi Enterprises Ltd and Toddy Civil Engineering Company, respectively.
The two directors are Anthony Ng’ang’a Mwaura and Rose Njeri Ng’ang’a.
They are Sonko’s co-accused in the Sh357 million graft case involving garbage collection tenders and conduits to siphon Nairobi’s public funds.
The court was told there are no orders preserving the assets and there is a likelihood of disposal and transfer. The application will be served to the respondent today.
The Assets and Recovery Agency alleges Sonko used conduits to steal funds from the Nairobi County Government.
Investigations established that Toddy Enterprises Limited and Mwaura are conduits used by Sonko and they jointly stole funds from Nairobi County Government and they were charged subsequently.
The court has issued orders prohibiting Hardy Enterprises and Toddy Civil Engineering Company Ltd or their representatives from transacting, withdrawing, transferring or dealing in any manner whatsoever in respect of funds held in the two accounts.
“A preservation order is hereby granted against Mwaura prohibiting the sale and transfer of nine motor vehicles registered in his name.
The third respondent (Anthony Nganga Mwaura) is hereby directed to surrender the original log book of the said motor vehicles among them a Toyota Land Cruiser and Mercedes Benz,” notice reads.
According to court papers, the Asset Recovery Agency investigations established that the Hardi Enterprises Ltd account at Equity Bank received Sh176 million from Nairobi County between October 15 to November 22 in eight suspicious transactions.
Similarly, the agency says that Toddy Civil Engineering on December 17, 2018 transferred Sh3 million from its Equity Bank account to Sonko’s account.
Investigations conducted by the Assets Recovery Agency into money laundering of crime have established that the respondents are beneficiaries and have acquired assets obtained from proceeds of crime,” reads court papers.
In a supporting affidavit filed in court by police officer in charge of investigation in the Assets Recovery Agency Fredrick Musyoki, an analysis of the accounts opening forms and statements of account established that there was massive suspicious cash deposits, withdrawals, intra and inter-bank transfers to accounts within the same banks and other banks.
