[Source: People Daily, by Alphonce Mung’ahu]
A pilot has been charged in a Nairobi court with forging a title deed and signatures in a bid to acquire a Sh250 million piece of land in Karen, Nairobi.
The court heard that Eric Ogola Lugalia also forged signatures of various people including the late Jonathan Kipkemboi Toroitich Moi, son to former President Daniel arap Moi, in a sale agreement dated January 15, 2015.
Ogola is accused of making a false document with intent to defraud Stuart Gerald Cullinan Herd of a parcel IR No1160/308 (Original No1160/248/2), situated along Bogani Road and measuring 1.970 hectares.
Ogola, 39, who appeared before Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate Caroline Muthoni on Friday pleaded not guilt to the 11 counts of making a false document, forgery and uttering false documents to a police officer at the Land Fraud Department of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
He was also charged with making a false certificate of title IR No.99256 LR No.1160/308 (Original No.1160/248/2) dated August 2, 2005.
Lugalia is further accused of purporting that the certificate was a genuine one issued by the Ministry of Lands, a fact he knew to be false.
According to the Prosecution, Lugalia allegedly forged the signatures of three land registrars—Fredric Indoko Lubullelah, George Gichimu Gichihi and Peter Mburu Ng’ang’a, all based at the Ardhi House, Nairobi.
He is alleged to have purported it was a genuine transfer document attested by Sonye J. Ondari, an advocate of the High Court.
On July 1, the accused is said to have presented the forged certificate, sale agreement and the transfer document to Sergeant Lawson Shuma at the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road. Lugalia’s two lawyers applied for his reasonable terms citing a pending civil case at the High Court over the ownership of the land.
“This case was commenced while there is a pending case at the Superior Court to determine the true owner since both Lugalia and Herd are claiming to be the bona fide owners,” the magistrate said.
State Prosecutor Winnie Moraa did not oppose application. The magistrate granted Lugalia release on a Sh300, 000 bond with one surety or She 150,000 cash bail.
The case will be mentioned on July 21.
This case was commenced while there is a pending case at the superior court.
[Source: People Daily, by Alphonce Mung’ahu]
