Kenya: Central Organization of Trade (Cotu) Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli confirmed to the court that close to Sh10 million was withdrawn from a bank account without his knowledge.
Mr Atwoli confirmed that Sh6.8 Million and Sh2.7 was withdrawn for a Danida project from one of the union’s account on June 29, and 30, 2009 by Millicent Ngeso, the then HIV and Aids co-ordinator.
Atwoli said this when he was being cross-examined by defence lawyer Humprey Kaindu who took him through copies of post-dated cheques bearing the signature of suspended Cotu Treasurer Cornel Ogutu, who is on trail, two years after he was suspended.
However, Atwoli told Senior Principal Magistrate Joseph Karanja that he could only confirm whether Cotu had approved the withdrawal of the funds after seeing the authorised requisitions.
He was testifying in a case in which Ogutu and Ngeso are accused of stealing over Sh115,599,204 from the union, on diverse dates between November 21, 2002 and March 28, 2013.
The two have however denied the charges and are out on bond.
“What do you say about your leadership as the chief executive officer of Cotu if such large amounts of money could be withdrawn without your knowledge or approval?” Kaindu asked Atwoli.
The defence lawyer also sought to know why the union’s post-dated cheques bore Mr Ogutu’s signature yet he was suspended two years ago.
In response, Atwoli alleged that the said blank cheques may have emanated from top suspended officials and he needed time to verify them.
“We had approvals whenever such huge amounts of money were withdrawn and unless I am given time to verify the source of the said blank cheques I cannot tell if they are genuine or not,” he said.
He told the court that Ogutu as the treasurer was mandated by Cotu’s executive board to run the accounts of the union. “If the hyena eats the goats it is entrusted to guard then it must be hunted,” Atwoli said.
The secretary general said Ogutu was the one running Cotu’s bank accounts and if “food had disappeared then it is only him who can account for it.”
Atwoli had earlier told the court that the suspended treasurer operated an unauthorised bank account without the union’s approval to which millions of shillings were siphoned from the giant union’s account.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join