Woman under investigation for defrauding a foreigner of KSh. 25M
Mombasa, Kenya – Faith Mwikali Ndiwa is under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for allegedly defrauding a foreign national of Ksh.25 million in a scheme reminiscent of a 419 scam.
According to reports, Ndiwa approached the CEO of Guarantee Trust Bank in May 2022, asserting that she had Ksh.70 million in her account and requesting financial advice. The details of the subsequent events remain unclear, but by December 2022, a Nigerian national, Jude Olabayo Veracruz, had allegedly been defrauded of Ksh.25 million.
Ndiwa is accused of using two of her companies to deceive Veracruz. The exact nature of the deception is still under investigation, but it reportedly involved a fabricated tender from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) for the supply of insecticide-treated nets.
Veracruz, believing he was investing in a legitimate business deal, allegedly transferred Ksh.25 million to complete his part of the bargain. However, upon realizing he had been defrauded, Veracruz reported the incident to the DCI, leading to the current investigation.
Ndiwa has denied all charges, including eight counts of forgery and obtaining money by false pretenses. The court case is ongoing, and a verdict is yet to be reached. This incident serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of thorough due diligence before entering into financial agreements, especially those solicited through unsolicited approaches.
