Safaricom Manager Summoned by Court in Pastor Ezekiel M-Pesa Investigation
On Monday, a court in Nairobi summoned the legal manager of Safaricom after the company allegedly refused to give police access to seven M-Pesa lines belonging to Pastor Ezekiel Odero and his church.
Milimani Magistrate Ben Ekhubi issued the order after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) informed the court that Safaricom failed to comply with a previous directive to disclose the financial statements of the pastor and his church.
Mr. Ekhubi ruled, “I hereby summon the legal manager of Safaricom to personally appear before this court on May 30, 2023, to explain why they cannot be cited for contempt for disobeying this court’s orders.”
The DPP, represented by James Gachoka, agreed with the DCI’s request to compel Safaricom’s legal officer to appear in court.
The DCI obtained orders compelling the telco and five banks to disclose the account transactions of the persecuted pastor, his New Life Church, and Kilifi International School on May 8.
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“Despite being served with the orders on May 8, the company has neither complied nor appeared before this court to give reasons for its non-compliance,” Inspector Munene told the court today.
Mr. Munene also sought a seven-day extension of the orders freezing the seven M-Pesa lines to allow police to complete their investigations.
The state noted that the investigation into the five banks is now complete and formally requested that the court lift the freeze orders.
Therefore, the magistrate lifted the freeze on bank accounts, allowing Pastor Ezekiel access to his funds.
He also extended the M-Pesa freezing order until May 30, 2022.
Attorneys Danstan Omari, Sam Nyaberi, and Shadrack Wambui informed the court that the M-Pesa accounts under investigation do not belong to Pastor Ezekiel, but rather to the church and Kilifi International School.
“All of these accounts are the property of Christians. No account of pastor Ezekiel’s was frozen. “The frozen accounts belong to the church and the school,” Omari informed the court.
Safaricom Manager Summoned by Court in Pastor Ezekiel M-Pesa Investigation
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