The Secretary-General for Central Organisation of Trade Unions, Francis Atwoli during celebrations of Labour Day. (Photo/Tuko.co.ke)
The Secretary-General for Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has been linked him to fraud that saw Sh15 million disappear from their accounts. Margret Ogila on Wednesday told a Nairobi court that she was accompanied by Francis Atwoli as the programmes coordinator, when they opened the account in October 2002. She added that Atwoli understood all the transactions that took place.
Ogila is accused of forging Atwoli's signature and minutes to open an account at Barclays bank.She is then alleged to have siphoned the union's money together with Mr Cornel Nyagun, former COTU Treasury, via the account.
While appearing before Magistrate Peter Ooko on Wednesday, Ogila defended herself claiming that Atwoli opened the account and remained the signatory to it.
“Mr Atwoli knew where all the money went to,” she said.
Ogila added that she would go with the COTU boss to source funds for running programmes and monies will be channeled to the account. She also claimed that National Aids Control Council (NACC), one of their donors, asked for a different account that was to be used for sensitization of the HIV and Aids.
Ogila further alleged that NACC contributed Ksh 6 million in three tranches.The money was then taken to Del Monte Kenya to help workers who were reported to have been succumbing to Aids every week.