Economy
A gold trader wants Amadi removed from a judicial position due to a $100 million fraud
Friday 02 June 2023
Chief Registrar Anne Amadi. file image | NMG
A British gold trader has petitioned the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) seeking the dismissal of Judicial Recording Commission chairman Anne Amadi over a Sh100m gold scam.
In the petition filed with the SEC, Demetrius Bradshaw, director of Bruton Gold Trading LLC, wants Ms. Amadi removed from JSC for alleged gross misconduct.
Mr Bradshaw has a case pending before the High Court seeking recovery of more than 100 million shillings, which he allegedly paid to law firm Amadi and Associates, which he claims was defrauded in a gold scam.
Judge Alfred Mabia on Friday extended an order freezing the accounts of Ms. Amadi and those of the law firm until June 9, when he will rule on her request to unfreeze the accounts and strike out the case.
“The Judicial Services Commission is taking the necessary steps consistent with all applicable laws and removing her from office with immediate effect,” the petition states.
Among the reasons cited by the British passport holder are to consult with, represent and manage the law firm Amadi and Associates while being an employee of
Judiciary, allegedly receiving money in an account she opened as the sole owner of the law firm and controlling the operations of said account.
Mr Bradshaw also alleges that Ms Amadi contacted his supporters at some point last year and subsequently met with her supporters to try to reach a settlement over the investigations, which were being conducted by the police.
“This is the stark question from Hon. Anne Atino Amadi’s actions conveyed in the paragraph above is, how did she know of the criminal investigations being conducted, and in what capacity did she come to this meeting and propose a solution if she was not already under the control of Amadi & Co?” the petition reads.
The Briton says that although Ms Amadi said he had ceased control of the law firm and handed the firm over to other advocates, including her son, Mr Brian Ochieng, the most recent certificate from the Registrar of Companies, dated May 30, 2023, still indicated that she was still the owner. Registrar of the law firm established in November 20212.
“There is no evidence that the Hon. Anne Atieno Amadi ceased control of the company or turned the company over to any of the advocates named on the site,” the petition states.
Ms. Amadi said that she had not practiced a private profession since 2014, after she resigned from the law firm after joining the judiciary.
She also said that there was nothing to show that the money allegedly for the purchase of 1,500 kilograms of gold by Bruton Gold Trading LLC, was transferred to her personal bank account.
But the gold trader through the law firm of Murage Juma & Company Advocates said Mr Ochieng and Andrew Njenga Kiarie as agents for Amadi and Associates confirmed they had received and withdrawn the money.
The gold shipment was allegedly purchased from Edward Taylor alias Imburunda Senkulo Sakor, a holder of a Liberian passport.
The law firm allegedly acted on behalf of both parties after drawing up the warranty agreement.
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