A headline on Sunday Nation Newspaper over Garissa governor Nathif Jama. [Photo: Courtesy]
Garissa governor Nathif Jama has threatened to sue the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Sunday Nation Newspaper.This follows accusations leveled against him, that he diverted Sh5.3 billion public funds to his frozen bank account.It is believed a bank statement purported to be his, surfaced on social media, with the Sunday Nation (June 3, 2017), reporting that EACC had successfully asked a Court to freeze Jama’s Sh5.3 billion account, at First Community Bank.According to the court filings, EACC believes the money, in governor Jama’s account in Nairobi’s South C branch, was fraudulently transferred from the Garissa County government.Justice Lydia Achode ordered the account be frozen for six months, as investigations continue, ahead of the case hearing, on July 30. First Community Bank, Wabera Street branch in Nairobi, was served with the order on Friday afternoon, according to the Star.
However, Jama (pictured above) termed the allegations as “slanderous” and promised to initiate legal action against EACC and the Sunday Nation newspaper.Speaking as he addressed hundreds of his supporters at Garissa Primary School during launch of his Manifesto, Jama questioned the timing of the allegations, saying they were invented to taint his name.“I don’t know where they got that bank statement because it is not mine. I personally don’t have such an amount of money. I will share my bank statement with everybody for everybody to see. This is politics of witch-hunt,” Jama said, Sunday.