Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, on Thursday, May 19, ordered the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to conclude their probe into New Life International Church Pastor Ezekiel Oder within 14 days.
Through his Lawyers, Pastor Ezekiel requested that the days for investigations into suspected money laundering be reduced from 30 to 15 to jumpstart his Church activities. Odero's bank accounts will thus be frozen for 14 days, with the directive ending on Sunday, May 21.
In the ruling, Magistrate Ekhubi, however, ordered all the parties to appear in court on Monday, May 22, when the case will be mentioned for further directions and orders.
“I will direct that you come back on Monday since the orders expire on a Sunday. I will extend the orders to Monday,” the court ruled.
On whether the court was within the legal provisions to freeze Pastor Ezekiel's accounts, Magistrate Ekhubi explained that the Law allowed him to grant the orders to the police.
This was after Lawyer Danstan Omari, who represented Pastor Ezekiel, complained that the police hoodwinked the court into issuing the orders.
Magistrate Ekhubi equally dismissed a preliminary objection in which the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) challenged Pastor Ezekiel's application.
The Prosecution claimed that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) needed more time to review the evidence.
The Magistrate will also deliver a ruling in an application in which Pastor Ezekiel sought to be granted access to some of his bank accounts even as the probe continued.
On Tuesday, May 16, Pastor Ezekiel moved to court asking the Magistrate to allow him to draw up to Ksh50 million from the frozen accounts.
"These bank accounts serve as a lifeline for numerous disadvantaged individuals, and closing them would unduly burden these individuals, condemning them to endure significant hardships and struggles," reads the affidavit.
He argued that his schools and the sanctuary, could not meet their financial obligations due to the ongoing probe.
"The cash flow issues occasioned by the freezing of the Applicant’s accounts is causing a negative impact on the workers and students associated with New Life Prayer Centre & church and Kilifi international school," Odero lamented.
