Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi has accused the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) of accepting bribes from Victoria Commercial Bank CEO Yogesh Pattni to obstruct a court ruling against him, citing a High Court decision that quashed the case in March 2021.
Nyakundi's allegations emerged after Milimani Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul ordered the DPP to resolve the status of his case and that of businessman Emmanuel Ong’era within 14 days. The magistrate's directive followed a March 2021 High Court ruling that declared evidence against Nyakundi obtained through illegal means, effectively ending the criminal case against him.
The blogger claims ODPP officials have ignored the court's decision, continuing to pursue the case despite the legal mandate. In a series of tweets, Nyakundi questioned the ODPP's actions, stating: "It seems ODPP officials are receiving a monthly retainer from Victoria Bank CEO Yogesh Pattni who has told them to disregard a high court order that ended the fake case. Noordin Haji has been mentioned by the prosecutor Muya. Noordin please open up and say how much reaches you." The tweets, dated August 25, 2021, also demanded transparency about the ODPP's financial interests in the matter.
Defense lawyer Dudly Ochiel argued before the magistrate that the DPP had failed to comply with the High Court's ruling, which had been in effect for six months. "The DPP ought to have acted in compliance with the superior court decision which was pronounced six months ago," Ochiel stated. The lawyer highlighted the DPP's reluctance to terminate the charges against Nyakundi and Ong’era despite the court's clear directive.
Nyakundi's legal troubles began in January 2020 when DCI detectives arrested him and Ong’era on charges of extortion and false accusations. The case was later revealed to involve collusion between DCI, Victoria Bank, and other entities, including a powerful figure linked to drug trafficking. A 2020 Constitution Court petition detailed how evidence was planted against the duo, leading to the High Court's intervention.
The blogger has repeatedly called on the ODPP to disclose any financial ties to Victoria Bank. "Can the ODPP declare their interest? Are they now working for Yogesh?" he asked in a tweet. The DPP has not publicly responded to these allegations, but Nyakundi's legal team continues to push for the case's termination.
