After months on the run, one of the prime suspects in an alleged KSh150 million land fraud case was on Monday arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts.
John Kigumo Mwaura appeared before Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, where he pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges levelled against him.
Mwaura will remain in custody until May 21, 2026, pending the preparation and presentation of a pre-bail report.
Also expected to be charged in connection with the case is Abdisalam Adan Hussein, who is yet to be arrested and arraigned in court.
Earlier, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) filed an application opposing the release of the accused on bond or cash bail, citing lack of cooperation with investigators.
According to the prosecution, Mwaura had been on the run despite being summoned several times by officers from the Land Fraud Investigations Unit and had also failed to honour court summons.
The prosecution further informed the court that the investigating officer had sworn an affidavit supporting the application to deny bail. The application was also backed by lawyer Paul Macharia, who is holding brief for the complainant.
However, the defence opposed the application, with Mwaura’s lawyer telling the court that his client had been unwell and had been admitted to several hospitals, including Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.
The defence also argued that the accused is not a flight risk and has a fixed place of abode where he lives with his family.
According to the main charge, the accused persons are alleged to have, on or before April 29, 2019, at an unknown location within the Republic of Kenya, jointly conspired to defraud Sabahat Shikatali Babib and Sadaff of land parcel LR No. 1870/III/417, IR No. 86014 (Original Number 1870/232/2), IR No. 81623/1, measuring approximately 0.1178 hectares located in Westlands, Nairobi County, valued at KSh150 million.
The prosecution alleges that the suspects fraudulently registered a lease document for the said parcel of land, knowing the information to be false.
The matter will be mentioned on Thursday, May 21, 2026, for further directions on bond or cash bail after the pre-bail report is filed.