Sonko Vows To Fight Back After Revival of Multi-Million Graft Case
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has pledged to contest a ruling that overturned his acquittal in a Ksh357 million fraud case issued on Wednesday.
Sonko, who was summoned to appear before the High Court on Monday, December 16, said in a statement on Wednesday that he would challenge the verdict.
“As a law-abiding citizen who holds the judiciary in high regard and respects all judicial decisions, I have instructed my legal team to immediately file an appeal against today’s ruling at the Court of Appeal,” Sonko asserted.
Previously, Justice Nixon Sifuna overturned Sonko’s acquittal, claiming that the trial magistrate erred in his December 21, 2022 decision by relying on a charge sheet altered by the Office Director of Public Prosecutions (ODDP).
My attention has been directed to a ruling issued by Justice Nixon Sifuna of the High Court today.
— Mike Sonko (@MikeSonko) December 11, 2024
Justice Sifuna directed that a case in which I was previously acquitted be retried by a different Magistrate.
The judge asserted that the lower court, presided over by Chief…
Sonko and 14 others were cleared of 19 damaging accusations against them, principally for embezzling Ksh357 million from the Nairobi County Government through unethical contracts when Sonko was the Nairobi County governor.
The case was dismissed for lack of evidence. Trial Magistrate Douglas Ogoti acquitted Sonko and one other accused, saying that the prosecution’s charge sheet was flawed.
“Therefore, the learned trial magistrate fell into grave error when he relied on a charge sheet that was amended, in arriving at his decision,” the judge stated.
“This is akin to using the wrong marking scheme to mark an exam. On this alone, the said ruling falls flat.”
In his appeal, the DPP stated that Justice Ogoti erred by failing to evaluate the evidence presented by the 19 prosecution witnesses.
PRESS STATEMENT
— Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (@ODPP_KE) December 11, 2024
WIN FOR DPP IN MIKE SONKO’S MONEY LAUNDERING CASE.#HakiNaUsawa pic.twitter.com/dgSoqLMbHM
However, Justice Sifuna disagreed, claiming that in his decision, Magistrate Ogoti “fell into grave error when he used the old charge sheet in deciding on the totality of the evidence.”
ALSO READ:
- NTSA Issues New Data On Driving Licenses, Urges Applicants To Track Progress
- UN’s Antonio Gutierrez Set To Visit Kenya Next Week For MAJOR Expansion
- Ruto Issues Orders For 44,000 Intern Teachers After End of Contract
- “Kenya Is Not Exporting Blood!” – Health Ministry Says After Viral Export Report
- Gov’t Issues Nairobi Railway City Progress Report Ahead Of July Completion Deadline
“It’s akin to using the wrong marking scheme to mark examination papers. On this alone, the said ruling falls flat,” he added.
Justice Sifuna directed Sonko and the other accused person to appear in court on Monday for instructions.
Sifuna additionally ordered that the new magistrate rule within 30 days whether the two have a case to answer, based on the facts on record.
Sonko, in his rejoinder shared on X, stated, “There’s no giving up because God has always been my protector and defender. He will never let me down. He has always fought my battles and will continue fighting for me to get justice.”
Sonko Vows To Fight Back After Revival of Multi-Million Graft Case
