The controversy surrounding Ann Njoroge, a Kenyan businesswoman linked to 17B oil import continues to be a mystery with new developments in the case.
According to Njoroge’s lawyer Cliff Ombeta, her consignment which was withheld in Mombasa port against her wish has been released to India minus fifteen metric tonnes of the diesel.
“Sasa meli imeenda,mafuta yamepotea,mengine yamechukuliwa Ann hapatikani tunaenda wapi?” stated Ombeta.
The statement loosely translates to “So the ship has left, we cannot find the oil, as some have been taken away, and Ann cannot be traced, where is the country headed?
Likewise, the lawyer revealed that Ann had obtained a court order from the Mombasa law courts stopping some oil marketers from offloading 100,000 metric tonnes worth Ksh 17 billion.
However, Cliff Ombeta claimed that the government released the consignment despite court orders preventing the same.
The lawyer called out the government asking why it failed to adhere to court orders.
“Mbona wamekiuka court order ambayo ilikua imetolewa kuwa hiyo meli isiachiliwe?”, Ombeta noted. This loosely translates to “Why did they go against the court order directing that the ship should not be released?
Who Is Ann Njoroge
Ann Njoroge is a Kenyan Billionaire and businesswoman who imports and exports oils from the gulf countries to Kenya.
Ann, according to her lawyer, has been in the Oil imports business for over 30 years.
Likewise, Ann who has been linked to the Ksh.17B oil import from Saudi Arabia was reported missing on November 9, 2023.
Her lawyer Cliff Ombeta who confirmed that she was missing, noted that her life was in danger.
According to Ombeta, Ann Njoroge’s disappearance is linked to Sh17 billion diesel oil that she imported into the country from Turkey, through Saudi Arabia, and through her company Ann’s Import and Export Enterprises Ltd.
Also, two other companies have laid claim to the 100,00 metric tonnes of the said diesel.
While speaking to a local media house, Ombeta noted that Ann transacted the alleged oil import business in partnership with an Israeli national.
He added that his client Ann has a good credit record with her financiers.
Ann Njoroge’s Disappearance
Cliff Ombeta said that before her disappearance Ann had been directed on Thursday 9th November 2023 by Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir to record a statement with the DCI.
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“It was Mr. Chirchir Energy CS who told her she needs to go and report to the DCI headquarters Nairobi,” said Ombeta.
He also stated that upon her arrival, Ann met with the DCI boss Amin who later handed her to an officer in charge of the investigation.
“She met Mr Amin at the headquarters who later handed her to Mr Birech, the person in charge of the investigation, she was told to record a statement,” said Ombeta.
Likewise, Lawyer cliff Ombeta noted that just after recording her statement, Ann was blocked by some officers and has not been seen since then.
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“After recording a statement, she was blocked by Mr Kibet and two other officers since then we have never seen Ann, we don’t know which station she is in,” added Ombeta.
He further noted that in efforst to find Ann, he called the officers incharge of the investigation Birech to inquire about her whereabouts to no avail.
“I spoke to him, Mr Birech told me he does not know what i am talking about, he does not know any Ann, or the fuel,” Ombeta stated.
“We have seen people disappear in Kenya before. We fear this could be headed that way and we do not want that to happen to my client,” he added.
Similarly, the summons came just after two established oil marketing companies each presented themselves lodging complaints of ownership of the consignment at the port of Mombasa.