It has emerged that popular lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi was paid Sh. 40 million by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for his services in the 2013 presidential election petition that lasted seven days at the Supreme Court.
It was also revealed that Aurelio Rebelo was paid Sh. 30 million for being the commission’s top lawyer.
This came out as a parliamentary committee questioned the manner in which the lawyer was paid. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) demanded to know why the commission paid Mr Abdullahi more money than Mr Rebello and the other law firms.
Apparently, the commission paid Mr Abdullahi more money than Mr Rebello and the other law firms. This means that Ahmednassir Abdullahi worth grew rapidly from that court case.
The IEBC released Sh385 million to 14 law firms with the highest paid receiving Sh40 million and the least Sh. 30 million.
Mr Ezra Chiloba, the IEBC chief executive, told MPs that the amount paid to Mr Abdullahi was a negotiated figure.
“Mr Abdullahi was the lead lawyer for the returning officer for the presidential election. The Sh40 million was negotiated. In fact he had asked for much more money,” Mr Chiloba said.
Mr Chiloba said the commission received a fee note of Sh568 million as a result of the presidential petition, but paid Sh385 million following negotiations.
Auditor-General Edward Ouko had questioned the legal fees paid to law firms amounting to Sh1.06 billion.