A high court in Kenya has ordered the immediate freezing of bank accounts where the sum of $48.6 million was deposited on the suspicion that the amount was the proceed from laundered money in a fraud scheme perpetrated by some Kenyans and Nigerians allegedly backed by some powerful politicians.

According to Kenya’s Assets Recovery Agency (KARA), the millions were transferred from multiple offshore accounts, including Nigeria, into the accounts of three Kenyan companies, Remix Capital Ltd, OIT Africa Ltd and Avalon Offshore Logistics Ltd.

The amount, a total of Sh5.6 billion ($48.6 million) is currently frozen in two Kenyan banks including Equity Bank and UBA Kenya Ltd, after being flagged by the KARA.

The Agency noted that suspicions were raised when the directors of the companies who were Nigerian and Kenyan nationals, refused to explain the sources of the millions, leading to discrete investigation into the funds.

The Assets Recovery Agency has, however, petitioned that the is money should be forfeited to the Kenyan government.

“The pattern of transaction in the accounts in issue and the activities of respondents depict money laundering activities and this court ought to issue the orders sought,” the petition by the Assets Recovery Agency said.

A report by a local media privy to the discovery of the money said they were allegedly “laundered by two Kenyans and two Nigerians who are believed to have been used as fronts by some powerful Kenyan politicians.”

“The Assets Recovery Agency was tipped off after the millions were transferred from multiple offshore accounts (including Nigeria) into the accounts of these three Kenyan companies, Remix Capital Ltd, OIT Africa Ltd and Avalon Offshore Logistics Ltd.

“The agency received information on a suspected case of money laundering schemes and acquisition of proceeds of crime involving multiple money transactions conducted through the bank accounts of the respondents in US dollars and Kenya shillings mainly from foreign jurisdiction whose source has no legitimate explanation.

“Consequently, the agency obtained a court order to freeze the accounts in which the millions were deposited. The six accounts will remain frozen until the agency’s petition to have the money forfeited to the Kenyan Government is determined,” the media reported.

As further punishment, the two banks involved, Equity Bank and UBA Kenya, could face penalties from the Central Bank of Kenya for facilitating the ‘illegal’ transactions in line with Kenya’s anti-money laundering laws which require banks to report suspicious transactions to the appropriate authorities.