Businesswoman Anne Njoroge, who had been reported missing after appearing for an interrogation at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), has been arraigned before a Mombasa court.
Njoroge was in court, accompanied by her lawyer, Cliff Ombetta.
Ahead of her arraignment on Tuesday, Njoroge, who has been linked to a whooping Ksh.17B oil import, had been reported missing, with her phone switched off and police officers saying she was not in custody.
At the heart of the matter is the ownership of some 100,000 metric tons of diesel that have also been claimed by two companies: Galana Energies Limited and Ramco.
The management of Kenya Ports Authority, who were on Sunday accused of offloading some of the cargo, has come out and accused Anne of forging documents she used to claim ownership of the consignment.
In a press conference addressed by KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto and Board Chairperson Benjamin Tayari, the management said Galana Energies Limited had the genuine importation documents.
Cap. William Ruto, the Managing Director of KPA said “Ile bill of lading amesema ni yake na ndio hii na ndio ukweli, bill of lading imekuwa signed na shipper kuwa ni yeye, carrier ni yeye things that cannot add up.”
KPA says records in their possession show that the vessel was carrying 93,460 metric tonnes of gas oil as opposed to the 100,000 metric tonnes of diesel as claimed by Ann Njoroge.
The gasoil was loaded between 26th and 28th September at Yanbu – Samref terminal, after which she departed for anchorage at Jeddah
The ship departed for Mombasa on September 30th according to KPA.
KPA further says that in it’s records out of the manifested 93,490 metric tonnes of Gasoil, 49,091 metric tonnes was destined to Kenya with the shipper being Aramco Trading Fujairah as nominated by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum
The remainder 44,368 metric tonnes was transit cargo for neighbouring countries including Uganda, South Sudan and DR Congo.
KPA insists their are no documents to show Ann’s Import and Export Enterprises Limited as the owner of the cargo.
While pointing out inconsistencies in documentation, KPA have questioned claims by the businesswoman that the vessel originated from Azerbeijan Republic and loaded at Jeddah.
The authority says documents in their possession show Yanbu in Saudi Arabia as the origin of the cargo.
Also in question is the date of loading, Ann had claimed that the vessel was loaded on October 9th yet the ship had arrived in Mombasa on October 11th.
They have also questioned why the bill of lading is not signed by the Master of the vessel.
The disappearance of Ann Njoroge, a businesswoman who has been involved in the oil importation business for 33 years comes just two months after another mysterious abduction of Rai Group Chairman Jaswant Rai who was released three days later.
Rai’s abduction remains a mystery to date even though subsequent events pointed to the ongoing wrangles in the sugar sector.
