Economy
The court releases the accounts of the judicial registrar, Ann Amadi
Friday 09 June 2023
Judicial Registrar Anne Amadi. file image | NMG
The Supreme Court lifted orders to freeze the personal bank accounts of the head of the Judicial Court, Anne Amadi, which were frozen last month, saying there was no indication of her involvement in the day-to-day activities of the law firm registered in her name.
Judge Alfred Mabia also ruled that there was no evidence that Ms Amadi profited from the Sh100m allegedly paid by Dubai-based Bruton Gold Trading LLC to purchase the 1,500kg gold bars.
Ms. Amadi was last month banned from using or transferring funds in her personal account and the accounts of her law firm, Amadi & Co., after the gold trading firm claimed it had been defrauded of millions as the cargo was never delivered to Dubai as agreed.
is reading: Court extends freeze of Amadi’s accounts in Sh100m gold fraud case
“There is nothing to show that the first defendant (Ms. Amadi) was involved in the day-to-day activities of the law firm or evidence to suggest that she profited from the funds,” the judge said.
However, Judge Mabia refused to dismiss the case as did Ms. Amadi and two other lawyers, including her son Brian Ochieng, who admitted receiving millions in exchange for buying gold in 2021.
The judge said Mr. Ochieng had to carry his cross because he was an adult, and the fact that she was Mrs. Amadi’s son did not mean she had to carry the burden for him.
Judge Mabia also said Ms. Amadi will remain a defendant because gold dealer Demetrius Bradshaw sued her to show that the law firm was registered in her name.
Bruton Gold has sued Ms Amadi, Mr Ochieng and two other Kenyans and a Liberian national for allegedly losing $742,206 between September 22 and October 21, 2021.
The court heard that the money was for the purchase of gold bars, but the precious metal was not delivered to the buyer in Dubai.
The other defendants in the case are Andrew Njinga Kyari, Kikana Toputi, Daniel Ndegwa Kangara, alias Daniel Morethi, and Edward Taylor alias Mburunda Senkulo Sakor, who is a holder of a Liberian passport.
Mr Ochieng, Mr Kiarie and Mr Topoti are advocates at the law firm Amadi and Associates, while Mr Kangara represented a company called Universal Gold Logistics Limited (UGL) and Mr Sakur was said to be the seller of the gold.
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