Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti has withdrawn from hearing the corruption case against Samburu Governor Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal.
On April 05, Ogoti quit handling the case and referred it to Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi after Governor Lenolkulal's lawyer Paul Nyamodi filed an application seeking his withdrawal.
In his application, the Governor said he is not assured or guaranteed of a fair hearing. He argued that Ogoti has already made a pre-determined outcome against him and other suspects in the case.
Lenolkulal filed the application based on an exclusive interview Magistrate Ogoti allegedly had with a local publication where he allegedly discussed contents of the case.
The article titled 'Corruption as bad as murder, says magistrate in governor's case' appeared in one of the local dailies on Thursday.
"My client has no confidence in you hearing this trial and we ask for you to recuse," the Governor's lawyer said.
Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Alexander Muteti rubbished the application terming it baseless.
While withdrawing from handling the case, Ogoti denied allegations that he had made a pre-determined outcome of the trial.
On April 2, Governor Lenolkulal pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of office, illegal acquisition of public property, conflict of interest and conspiring to defraud the county government Sh84 million in fuel fraud.
The governor was slapped with Sh100 Million cash bail, however, the High Court reviewed the cash bail to Sh10 million.