News

Bank disowns statement in Sh5.2bn Garissa governor suit

JAMA

Governor Nathif Jama in Nairobi on July 3, 2017. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL

First Community Bank (FCB) has disowned a bank statement used to freeze a Sh5.2 billion account that anti-graft agency says belongs to Garissa governor Nathif Jama.

The lender said it is not the source of the bank statement currently circulating and promised to provide the account details to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Tuesday.

On Friday, Lady Justice Lydia Achode ordered the account be frozen for six months so that the EACC can scrutinise transactions amounting to Sh5.2 billion over the last four years.

According to court filings, the EACC believes the money, which is held in Mr Jama’s account in Nairobi’s South C branch of the First Community Bank, was fraudulently transferred from the county government of Garissa.

“FCB in keeping in keeping with the principle of ethical business practices will like to categorical state the bank statement that was put on social media is not true,” said the bank in a statement on Monday.

“FCB will fully co-operate and provide all the necessary documentation requested by the CEO of EACC on July 4.”

Bank statements obtained by the EACC and captured in Sunday Nation reports, indicate a total of 32 deposits amounting to Sh2,442,011,012.06 were made into the account between January 1, 2015, and May 20, 2016.

The bank statement accompanying sworn affidavits by anti-corruption investigators further indicates the account had a balance of Sh2.8 billion carried forward from 2014, bringing the total to Sh5.2 billion.