EACC dismisses CBK boss contempt of court claims

The anti-corruption agency has told a court that an application by Central Bank of Kenya Governor Prof Njuguna Ndung’u accusing it of contempt of court amounts to a sideshow meant to delay the hearing of his petition.

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) lawyer David Ruto yesterday asked the High Court in Nairobi to dismiss the application and let the main petition by the Governor seeking to stop his prosecution be determined. EACC argued that the CBK boss filed the application accusing it of contempt so that he can delay the hearing of the case as he enjoys conservatory orders stopping his prosecution issued in February.

Ruto told trial judge George Odunga that the application for contempt is meant to paint EACC in bad light, saying Ndung’u had failed to show how the commission had violated his fundamental rights.

The governor filed a petition in February seeking to stop his prosecution over the award of a Sh1.2 billion security systems tender. The CBK boss is challenging a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions giving EACC the go ahead to charge him over irregularities in the tender. Ruling will be delivered on June 10.