Migori Governor Okoth Obado’s corruption case was on Monday adjourned after the court learnt that one of the accused had contracted Covid-19.
Chief magistrate Lawrence Mugambi who was supposed to hear the case was informed that one of the accused, Peninah Auma, was admitted to hospital with Covid-19.
The court was set to hear the witness who would testify against Obado and his four children alongside other accused persons.
Mugambi directed that the matter be mentioned on Wednesday this week when the court will be updated on the condition and the court will be furnished with her medical records.
The case may proceed on Thursday this week if the accused is given a clean bill of health.
Obado and his children were charged last year with conspiracy to commit a felony relating to fraud of Sh73.4 million from Migori county.
It is alleged that being the governor, he held an indirect private interest in several contracts that paid money into his children's accounts.
Obado was separately charged with eight counts of conflict of interest for the different times that each of the children received money in their accounts from the county's coffers.
The governor has also denied a charge of money laundering.
Obado and his son Dan Achola have been jointly charged with money laundering. It's alleged that they entered into an arrangement of transfer of Sh10 million for the purchase of a Land cruiser vehicle knowing that the said money was a proceed of crime.
Deltrack ICT Services owned by Joram Opala— a brother to one of the accused Jared Kwaga—was paid Sh30.6 million. He then wired Sh10.8 million to Achola.
Three of the firms associated with the Kwaga family were also paid Sh163.5 million by the Migori government.
The firms include Pesulus Supplies and Kajulu Business Ltd owned by Kwaga’s mother Peninah Auma, and Atinus Services owned by Kwaga’s wife Christine Akinyi.
After receipt of the cash, Sh20 million was wired to Misoft Company Ltd co-owned by Kwaga and his wife.
From the accounts of this firm, Sh9.9 was transferred directly to Obado’s children, the EACC dossier indicates. Scarlet Susan was paid Sh5.9, Achola Sh1.8 million and Jerry Sh2.2 million.
Tarchdog Printers Ltd owned by Kwaga’s brother Joram Opala Otieno was also separately paid Sh37.4 million by the county.
-Edited by SKanyara
