Lawyer Ndeda Charged in USD 52M Land Deal Case

Prominent High Court advocate Stephen Juma Ndeda has been arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court at Kahawa, facing serious charges of forgery, uttering forged documents, and money laundering in a case linked to a suspected multi-million dollar land transaction.

Ndeda, who practices under Ndeda & Company Advocates, was charged following investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after a tip-off received on June 26, 2023, raised concerns over a suspicious land deal in Kajiado County.

USD 52.4 Million Wired to Law Firm Account

According to the prosecution, investigations by the DCI’s Financial Investigations Unit revealed that Ndeda’s law firm received a staggering USD 52,490,000 through international wire transfers.

The money was allegedly paid as consideration for a 50-acre parcel of land in Kajiado County, based on a sale agreement naming Andrew Simiyu as the vendor and Alguns Limited as the purchaser.

However, investigators told the court that the funds did not originate from Alguns Limited, but from a foreign entity known as Algans EOOD, based in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Arms Trading and Money Laundering Red Flags

The court heard that suspicion deepened after investigators established that Alguns Limited’s primary business involves arms trading, raising alarm over a potential international money laundering or arms smuggling syndicate.

“This discovery heightened concerns that the transaction could be linked to cross-border financial crimes,” an investigator testified.

Although the funds were wired into Ndeda’s Nairobi bank account, the transaction was flagged by the bank and later reversed for failure to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and reporting requirements on suspicious transactions.

Alleged Forged Sale Agreement

Further investigations revealed that the sale agreement underpinning the transaction was allegedly forged.

The purported land owner, Andrew Simiyu, recorded a statement denying any involvement in the deal.

“I did not sign that document, and I have no knowledge of any sale of my land,” Simiyu told investigators, disowning the agreement entirely.

The prosecution maintains that Ndeda knowingly uttered forged documents in an attempt to legitimise the transaction and facilitate the transfer of the funds.

Advocate Denies Charges

Ndeda denied all charges when he appeared before the Kahawa Law Courts. The court is expected to issue directions on bail and pre-trial procedures as investigations continue.

A source close to the case noted that the magnitude of the alleged transaction underscores the increasing complexity of financial crimes involving professionals, including advocates entrusted with safeguarding legal and financial integrity.

If convicted, the case could have far-reaching implications for Ndeda’s legal career and expose broader vulnerabilities within Kenya’s land transactions and financial systems.