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Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado is yet to surrender to the State vehicles allegedly acquired through proceeds of crime, a court heard yesterday.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) through lawyer Suge Jemutai told High Court Judge Esther Maina that Obado and his four children have not complied with the orders issued on July 21 this year directing them to surrender three motor vehicles make V8 Land Cruisers to the commission within seven days together with their logbooks. “The respondents have partially complied with the court orders. They have only surrendered one motor vehicle,” said Jemutai.

But the judge told the lawyer to file a formal application to compel the former governor and his children to comply with the orders of the court.

At the same time, the commission informed the judge that it will produce 25 witnesses to prove how the former governor, his children and his aide Peter Odonyo acquired Sh73.5 million wealth illegally.

Justice Maina, however, granted Obado and his four children and other alleged accomplices and companies 21 days to file their responses and submissions to the application to have their assets forfeited to the state.

The judge put the former governor and his co-defendants on the spot for failing to file their pleadings on time in the case that was filed in 2020.

She rejected their argument that the delay was occasioned by the general elections.

Justice Maina fixed the matter for hearing from December 6 to 8 warning that if they do not file responses, the matter will proceed undefended.

In the case, ARA is seeking to seize a house in Loresho Ridge, Nairobi and three high-end cars which have since been frozen by the court pending the hearing and determination to of the case.

In July this year, the court ordered Obado, his son Ochola as well as Oliver Okeno Odhiambo who are in possession of two motor vehicles two V8 Land Cruisers to surrender the same to EACC.

The judged barred Obado, his four children Evelyne Adhiambo Zachary, Dan Achola Okoth, Scarlet Susan Okoth and Jerry Zachary Okoth and his proxy Jared Peter Odoyo Kwaga their servants or agents from selling, charging, sub-divining, leasing, developing, wasting or dealing in any way with the Loresho property LR No. 21080 pending hearing of the case by the anti-graft agency.

“Pending the hearing and determination of this matter an order his hereby granted that the monthly rental income of SH 143,000 deprived from renting out f the Loresho Ridge House in the Joint earning accounst in name EACC and Obado,” Justice Maina ruled.

EACC is seeking to recover the sum total of Sh73.5 million which it says was allegedly looted from the county coffers through fraudulent means.

EACC filed an application in 2019 claiming Obado’s luxury cars and property were obtained from proceeds of graft.

“It is therefore just and fit to prohibit the defendants, their agents, servants and/or any other persons from alienating, wasting, transferring, disposing or in any other way dealing with the properties,” EACC said.

According to EACC, several people who are proxies of the governor registered several companies with the intention of securing heavy contracts from Migori County government.

The anti-graft body said proceeds from the alleged criminal activities were channeled into accounts of the Migori governor.

EACC also indicates that a sum of Sh 38.9 million was used to pay the university fees and upkeep of the governor’s three children while part of the remaining money was used to purchase two V8 Land Cruisers.

The two vehicles were registered under Dan Achola Okoth and Oliver Odhiambo.