Nigerian Chinedu slapped with new charges

Nigerian businessman Antony Chinedu who is battling for the ownership of a multi-million shillings estate against his estranged wife Joyce Akinyi was on Wednesday charged new charges of forgery and being in the country illegally.

On Monday, Mr Chinedu who was charged with narcotic drugs related offences was in shock at the Milimani Law Court when the prosecution presented a substituted charge sheet with additional counts.

The prosecution also applied that he be held in custody till the case is heard and determined.

“We have a substituted charge sheet and additional counts that have been proffered against the accused,” Prosecutor Onesmus Towett told the court.

The new charges indicating Mr Chinedu forged a passport and has been residing in Kenya illegally were read out in addition to the one stating he was found in possession of an apparatus used in preparing narcotic drugs.

He is also accused of preventing anti-narcotic agents from conducting a lawful search at his palatial house in the city’s upmarket Kileleshwa estate.

The prosecution said two digital weighing scales, plastic bags and glue used in the drug business were recovered in his house contrary to Section 5 of the Anti-narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act.

An affidavit stating Mr Chinedu may not turn up for trial if granted bail was also presented in court.

The court is yet to make a ruling on the affidavit that seeks to have Mr Chinedu released from custody.

“After carrying out further investigations, it has been established that the Nigerian is holding a passport number A2935912 with no valid visa nor work permit and is illegally in the country,” Mr Towett told the court.

"I ask this honourable court not to grant bond as he may abscond,” he added.

Mr Chinedu denied he forged a passport purported to have been issued by the Nigerian government.

He also denied he presented the purported forged passport to Chief Inspector Raha Ngaoon April 13, during the raid at his residence.

The court ordered he be taken back into custody until a ruling on his bond terms is delivered on Thursday morning.

His lawyer, Mr Michael Osundwa requested for a day to challenge the police affidavit and promised to invoke an earlier ruling made in his favour in 2008 that blocked his deportation till the hearing and determination of the property cases still pending in the courts.

In 2008, a court overruled an attempt by the Ministry of Immigrations to deport Mr Chinedu back to Nigeria.

Mr Chinedu has five charges facing him before the Nairobi Chief magistrate.