Okemo, Gichuru extradition case kick

By JUDY OGUTU

Extradition proceedings against former Cabinet minister Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power and Lighting (KPLC) chief executive Samuel Gichuru began yesterday.

The two appeared before Nairobi Senior Principal Magistrate Grace Macharia to fight off attempts to hand them over to the United Kingdom (UK), where they are required to face charges of corruption and money laundering.

Through their advocate, Mr Fred Ngatia, they challenged the decision of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Keriako Tobiko to have them arrested and repatriated, saying he has no power to do so.

Tobiko had written the letter to the chief magistrate requesting Okemo and Gichuru voluntarily surrender following arrest warrants issued against them by the Jersey Island court. Consequently, they presented themselves in court so that there was no need for issuance of the warrants.

Yesterday, Ngatia submitted: "I urge you to hold and find that in the absence of written authority by the Attorney General (AG), the proceedings before you are fatally defective. It (application) should be thrown out and the liberty of this two gentlemen be restored."

Further, he urged the court to find that in the absence of the AG’s authority, the proceedings ought to end.

Yesterday, they also requested the court to allow their accusers to come so that they can have the constitutional right to challenge their evidence.