Chris Mwai Ngweti, a Kenyan man who conned the wife of the jailed drug baron Baktash Akasha Sh5 million pretending that he could help them return the Akasha brothers from the US, where he’s jailed for drug trafficking charges has been arrested.
According to Police report sent to the media, Ngweti fraudulently forged letters purporting to have originated from Office of the President, Foreign Affairs Ministry and the US Drug Enforcement Administration authorizing the return of Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha from the US.
Police say the suspect and others still at large acted as State House agents and approached Baktash’s wife, Ms. Najma Juma Hassan, and promised to secure the Akasha’s return from the US after paying Sh5.1 million.
Mr. Ngweti was arraigned before Shanzu Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo and denied two counts of conspiracy to defraud and commit a felony. In the first count, the suspect is accused jointly with conspiracy to commit a felony by obtaining money by pretense between October 9, 2018, and November 15, 2018.
The second count reads that the suspect jointly with others not before the court conspired with intent to defraud by pretending to be a State House agent. Mr. Ngweti, who also told the court that he is Pastor at a local church in Shanzu, denied the charges. He was released on a Sh1 million cash bail or on an alternative bond of Sh2 million. State Counsel Rosemary Nandi did not oppose the suspect’s plea for the bond.
Baktash is serving a 25-year jail term in the US after he was sentenced on August 16. His younger brother, Ibrahim, is awaiting his jail sentence on November 8.
Ngweti the Pastor was to, according to the police, link Ms. Hassan with Mr. Stephen Nzioka who was to further link her with the State House to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta over the fate of her husband and brother-in-law who are facing drug trafficking charges in the US.
Baktash’s wife told the Police that after she was linked with Mr. Nzioka, they traveled together to Nairobi where they were to meet President Kenyatta and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma. The president and the CS were to help in facilitating the return of the Akashas, the alleged fraudsters had claimed.
When they arrived in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, Nzioka demanded Sh500,000 her. Ms. Hassan was accompanied by her daughter Hayat Akasha. He told her that the money would be given to State House comptroller Kinuthia Mbugua to facilitate a meeting with Mr. Kenyatta, whom she was told had other engagements.
Additionally, Nzioka asked for another Sh500,000 that would be handed over to the Foreign Affairs office to help the issuance of the letter that would facilitate the extradition process. Baktash’s wife was given an unsigned and unstamped letter allegedly from CS Monica Juma and other letters signed by Mr. Mbugua.
Ms. Hassan was also given another forged letter alleged to have come from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and signed by Mr. Abdalla, whom she was told had been instructed by the President to handle her case. She told the police the letter was signed by a Mr. McRae and also copied to President Kenyatta.
Nzioka ghosted after receiving millions of money from Baktash’s wife and showed up occasionally sometimes with an assurance that all was well and that her husband and brother-in-law would return home soon. Her last communication with Mr. Nzioka was that the Akashas would return home after four days, but that is yet to happen.
The wife to the jailed drug baron told the police that she never met the president, the Foreign Affairs CS or Mr. Mbugua for the many days she stayed in Nairobi. The case will be mentioned on November 14.
There's no story that cannot be told. We cover the stories that others don't want to be told, we bring you all the news you need. If you have tips, exposes or any story you need to be told bluntly and all queries write to us [email protected] also find us on Telegram
