Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai, court was informed that a complaint was lodged by SBS Dunhill Group Limited- owned by city billionaire Chris Obure.
Witness Inspector John Munjama currently working at Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) office Kisumu said Obure said the complaint lodged was about a lease that was coming to an end.
He said Obure had complained that he was unlawfully evicted from the property, Senteu Plaza in Kilimani, on 16 May 2025 pursuant to a court order which he claimed had not been stayed.
The officer said he was previously working with Serious Crime Unit at the time of this investigation at DCI headquarters Nairobi.
“Together with Chief Inspector Geoffrey Ndago were tasked by the Deputy to take over an investigation on the file on a case of dispute of business premises from 2016,”he added.
Lead investigator Geoffrey Ndago who also testified said he called Complaint Obure who was Chairman for Dunhill and CEO who was Kimani Irungu who came to their office on February 9, 2024.
They officers said after they recorded statements, they handled over the file to Mr Paul Wachira who was the deputy director Criminal Investigations.
“On 1st February 2024 we were tasked by Deputy Director Investigation Branch to take over investigations from DCI office Nairobi branch, “they said.
Munjama said he took over the file and was an issues of lease of business premises at Senteu Plaza that was supposed to run from 1st of October 2017, it was to run for 6 years.
He said the agreement was between ACS and others companies ltd who are the owners of Senteu plaza and SPS DUNHILL Africa Group who were tenants.
In the case, Obure stands accused of forging board minutes from the estate of the late Ajeetkumar C. Shah, the founding director of the landlord company, to facilitate the disputed purchase, allegedly amounting to Ksh 1.3 billion.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai, the prosecution introduced its star witness, Pankaj Chhaganlal Shah, Managing Director of the late Shah’s estate.
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Shah told the court that the plaintiff, SBS Dunhill Group Limited- owned by city billionaire Chris Obure- was evicted from the property, Senteu Plaza in Kilimani, on 16 May 2025 pursuant to a court order which he claimed had not been stayed.
“The tenant is not in the lease building. Through my lawyer we got orders for them to vacate. I don’t know that the orders were stayed and the case is still ongoing,” Pankaj stated before the court.
However, during cross-examination by Obure’s lawyer, Muthoni Nkonge, the businessman conceded that the eviction orders had been contested in court.
It emerged that the property in question is jointly owned by four brothers: the late Ajeetkumar Chhaganlal, the late Chandulal Chhaga
Further testimony revealed that after the lease period, the property was to be sold to SBS for Sh1.3 billion.
“It was also resolved at the said meeting that the prospective Landlord (s) be informed that the Applicant’s International Board of Directors would,” only take up space in their building and invest close to USD Ten Million (say USD 10,000,000.00) therein if the (the Landlords) agree in good faith that they would sell of the building to the Applicant at the expiry of the anticipated six (6)-year Lease term beginning 2017 to 2020 and 2020 to 2023,” Obure testified.
SBS told the court it was irregularly evicted after paying over Sh1 billion towards acquiring the property. Pankaj, however, denied receiving any money related to the sale of the building.…
“The tenant had indicated in a letter that he was in rent arrears and he was looking for money to offset the Rent arrears the money was not paid,” said Pankaj.
He further disclosed that the lease agreements were signed by his two now-deceased brothers, Ajeetkumar and Chandulal, who passed away in 2018 and 2022 respectively. He said he never signed any lease with SBS.
The best forum to settle the dispute is before a civil court. After a comprehensive review by the DPP, application to withdraw the matter under 87A.
Counsel watching brief for the complainant objected saying he needed time to respond to the application, the court directed that all parties file their submissions in support of the application or response, the case to be mentioned on September 30 to confirm filing of the submission.
