Landmark Freight Services directors defend legality of Ksh1.6B Nairobi land deal

Testifying before Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi on Friday, Bharat Ramji Manji stated that he and other directors of Landmark Freight took possession of the property after securing it with a perimeter wall and private guards.

“We occupied the land, and after some time, we found a buyer and sold it. We paid stamp duty amounting to Ksh.640,000, with the land valued at Ksh 15 million,” said Manji, adding that the transaction occurred on December 20, 2011.

He told the court that Landmark Freight later sold the land in 2018 to PayPal Freight Company Limited for Ksh 160 million, with the payment facilitated through an agent. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamp duty documentation was presented in court as evidence.

Manji said he was only made aware of the legal dispute after receiving a court notice last year. He denied allegations that Landmark Freight Services Limited was not the legitimate owner of the land, noting that no ownership issues had arisen until the court case was filed.

The property in question, identified as Land Reference Number 21068, measures approximately 0.6724 hectares and is located in Nairobi.

In the ongoing case, John Gitau Ngumi, Atek Otech, and Bernard Otieno Mallo are accused of conspiring with others not before the court to defraud Landmark Freight Services Limited by falsely claiming ownership of the land. Prosecutors allege the trio knowingly presented themselves as the rightful owners in an attempt to unlawfully acquire the high-value property.

A lawyer who oversaw the land transaction has also testified, affirming the legality of the deal.

The hearing continues.