The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested Clifford Odhiambo, a Kisumu-based Advocate of the High Court, and Zakayo Otieno Wambogo, a Court Assistant assigned to Hon. Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili, Presiding Judge of Kisumu High Court.
The arrests took place yesterday (Friday) afternoon following a complaint made to the EACC by Justice Aburili, who reported that the two had demanded and received Kes500,000 from a litigant under the pretense of acting on her behalf.
The suspects had solicited the bribe, claiming that the Presiding Justice of the Kisumu High Court required it as an inducement to deliver a favorable judgement in a case before her. This case had been determined on May 17th, 2024.
Lady Justice Aburili, who has recorded a statement with the EACC, stated that she learned the advocate had handed over Kes500,000 to her Court Assistant for onward transmission to her without her knowledge. She subsequently questioned the implicated advocate and Court Assistant in open court, where they confessed to receiving the money in her name and dividing it between themselves.
After their arrest, the suspects were placed in custody at Kisumu Railways/Port Police Station pending further action.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the money had been given to Advocate Gwada by Peter Warindu and Company Advocates, for whom he was holding brief in the case. Mr. Gwada told the law firm that the Judge had demanded the money to issue a judgment in favor of a claimant in an insurance claim.
Notably, this was the second time Justice Aburili reported a similar case to the EACC. While serving in Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, she had reported staff working in her chambers to the EACC after they solicited a bribe in her name. She later testified against them in court, leading to their conviction for giving and receiving a bribe.
The EACC, noting the increasing cases of imposters and fraudsters extorting money in the names of senior public officials in the justice system, urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and not fall prey to such fraudulent schemes. All suspected fraudsters should be reported to the EACC through Toll Free Line 1551 or other relevant law enforcement agencies for action.
