Frozen Fortune: DCI’s Triumph Over Pastor Ezekiel’s 28 Bank Accounts
On Monday, May 8, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reportedly outwitted Pastor Ezekiel Odera to freeze his 28 bank and mobile money accounts.
According to his attorneys, the defendant was surprised.
The DCI team investigating the case rushed to a Nairobi Magistrate Court to file a request to prevent the controversial pastor from accessing his millions.
DCI had allegedly obtained orders to freeze the accounts. By the time his attorneys, led by Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta, moved to counter the directive.
“While we were in Kilifi, DCI rushed to the Milimani Magistrates Court in Nairobi and informed the magistrate that some of our accounts should be closed,” said attorney Danstan Omari.
Pastor Ezekiel’s bank accounts are all located in the Coastal region. So Danstan argued that the lawsuit should have been filed in Mombasa or Kilifi.
“All of these accounts are located in Mombasa; he has no accounts in Nairobi. We cannot comprehend why they chose to move to the Milimani magistrates court when the accounts are located in Mombasa, lamented Danstan.
According to his attorneys, the directive also targeted his wife’s and New Life Church’s accounts for alleged money laundering.
Following the directive, the state froze Pastor Ezekiel’s bank accounts for thirty days to investigate allegations of money laundering.
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A portion of the ruling stated, “It is necessary and desirable to issue the applicant a warrant to investigate books of the bank and mobile money services accounts to grant the officer access to books about multiple account numbers.”
“Whereas it has been established under oath before this Honorable Court that, to investigate the commission of Money Laundering Contrary to Section 3, 4, and 7 of POCAMLA Act No. 9 of 2009, it is necessary and desirable to issue the Applicant a warrant to investigate the books of the bank and mobile money services accounts,” the court ruled.
The Pastor was released on Thursday, May 4. After the Shanzu Law Courts ordered him to post bail in the amount of Ksh1.5 million.
Pastor was allegedly Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s co-conspirator in the Shakahola massacre.
However, Ezekiel denied the claims before the court.
He was also required to report to the DCI once per week.
Frozen Fortune: DCI’s Triumph Over Pastor Ezekiel’s 28 Bank Accounts
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