Pressure is piling on Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi to resign over an alleged link to a Ksh89 million gold scam.
Amadi has been sued alongside her son Brian Ochieng, two other Kenyans and a Liberian citizen by a Dubai-based firm after the gold it purchased was never delivered.
While weighing in on the case on Tuesday, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua suggested that the judiciary official should step aside pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
“Shouldn’t she step aside pending the determination @KenyasOmbudsman @Kenyajudiciary @lawsocietykenya,” Karua said in a tweet.
The Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition co-principal was reacting to the recusal of High Court Judge David Majanja from the case over a conflict of interest.
Shouldn’t she step aside pending determination @KenyasOmbudsman @Kenyajudiciary @lawsocietykenya https://t.co/xPX8BZA7xM
— Martha Karua SC (@MarthaKarua) May 23, 2023
Justice Majanja yesterday said he could not continue hearing the case since he sits in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) where Amadi is the secretary to the commission.
He referred the matter to Justice Alfred Mabeya of the Commercial Division for further hearing.
“l am a member of JSC where Amadi sits as the secretary and CRJ and I granted the order on that basis it was the law firm- Amadi & Associates Advocates registered in her name. I note that there are issues pertaining to my partiality and the impression created to the members of the public. I, therefore, disqualify myself from hearing the matter and refer it to the High Court Commercial Division Presiding Judge Alfred Mabeya for hearing on Wednesday morning,” Justice Majanja said.
Majanja, however, declined Amadi’s request to lift orders freezing her bank accounts pending the hearing of the case filed by Bruton Gold Tradicing LLC.
Amadi denies fraud allegations
In her affidavit, Amadi distanced herself from the fake gold deal, saying it was her son who has been managing the law firm linked to the scam.
Amadi told the court that she left private practice on January 13, 2014, when she was appointed as the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary.
Amadi claims she did not receive any money or benefit from the monies sent by the Dubai-based company to the firm as at all times it was managed by her son Ochieng’ and one Andrew Njenga Kiarie, who receives clients’ instructions, executes the same and receives any client’s monies.
Other defendants in the case are Kikanae Topoti, Daniel Ndegwa Kang’ara alias Daniel Muriithi and Edward Taylor alias Mboronda Seyenkulo Sakor, a Liberian passport holder.
