A Nairobi court has ordered controversial businessman Chrisantus Philip Okeyo Obure, alias Chris Obure, to defend himself in a fraud and forgery case.
Obure, who is charged alongside Nickson Omanda, will take the stand on October 28, 2025.
While delivering the ruling, Milimani Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai rejected an application by the defence seeking a mention date to allow time for witness travel arrangements.
The lawyer, holding brief for Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba, told the court that the accused intended to call four witnesses from upcountry, requiring time to prepare their travel documents.
“Your honour, we pray for a mention date before the accused appears in court to defend themselves, to facilitate the transportation of the foreign witnesses,” the lawyer pleaded.
But the magistrate dismissed the request, noting that the matter had already dragged on.
“It is not a must the witnesses appear physically. They can testify virtually. If they are not ready by the set date, the accused will proceed with their defence as the witnesses prepare,” he ruled.
Obure, through his firm SBS Dunhill East Africa, is accused of forging a binding board resolution purporting to have been signed by Chandulal Shah, Director of AC and Others Ltd, in a bid to fraudulently claim ownership of the upmarket Senteu Plaza.
He allegedly uttered the forged documents at the DCI Headquarters on February 10, 2024, before the Serious Crimes Unit.
On February 9, 2024, Obure is also said to have knowingly given false information to police officer Geoffrey Ndatho, claiming to have entered into a valid sale agreement for Senteu Plaza with AC and Others Ltd, relying on the forged resolution.
He faces multiple counts of forgery, uttering false documents, and providing false information to a public officer, charges tied to an alleged scheme to defraud foreign investors of millions.