A businesswoman who claimed in court she was divorced for befriending a Nigerian tycoon who later got her charged for allegedly conning him KES 25 million has been cleared of any wrongdoing by a Milimani law court on September 9, 2026.
Ms Faith Mwikali Ndiwa alias Faith Nguthu walked to her freedom on Wednesday after a magistrate Caroyne Mugo ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the case against her.
Nguthu, who has expressed interest in the Nairobi Woman Representative seat, confessed her frustrations, embarrassment and woes that befell her for allegedly befriending foreign investor Mr Jude Olabaya Veracruz, a bank CEO in Nigeria.
Ms Nguthu disclosed that she was kicked out of her marriage after the father of their three children discovered her illicit relation with the deep pocketed investor.
"My husband chased me away after social media splashed the information that l was seeing a Nigerian investor Veracruz," Nguthu stated at the Milimani Law Courts.
She also revealed that the foreigner was imposing himself on her after learning that she was a successful businesslady running a Chemist and a Spa besides working at the Wilson Airport in the ticketing department.
"Indeed, the Nigerian was my friend after we met in the Spa business, he developed interest in me and forced a relationship with me. Which l declined because l was already a married woman with three children," she disclosed during an emotive interview.
Nguthu made the startling revelations soon after she was cleared of multiple charges of forgery and defrauding Mr Vercuz Sh25 million.
“After analyzing all the evidence tendered by the prosecution I find that no case has been proved against Faith Mwikali Ndiwa alias Faith Nguthu. I hereby acquit her under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code for lack of evidence,” Ms Mugo ruled.
The magistrate noted the prosecution witnesses including the Nigerian investor Veracruz did not present tangible evidence to prove the serious allegations that she had conned the complainant Sh 25 million and forging of Kemsa tender documents claiming that she was working for a relative of the late prime minister Raila Odinga.
The magistrate faulted the DPP and DCI for failing to present key witnesses in the matter thereby weakening the case.
The court had been told that the alleged fraud began in May 2022 before her arrest on May 18,2024.
Nguthu faced charges of forgery, falsifying contract documents, and obtaining money through pretenses.
She was accused of orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme that duped a Nigerian investor Veracruz Sh25 million.
The alleged fraud began in May 2022 when Nguthu posed as an investor seeking financial advice from Veracruz, a CEO of a bank in Nigeria.
She initially sought his expertise in managing Sh70million project.
Building on this engagement, she later proposed a lucrative business opportunity involving a contract to supply mosquito nets, falsely claiming she worked for a relative of Mr Odinga.
Nguthu convinced Veracruz to invest in the purported project by promising significant returns.
She backed her claims with forged documents, including a fake framework contract and an amendment, which she claimed were for a tender with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).
Prosecution claimed it was this alleged deception which led Veracruz to transfer Sh25 million in installments between June 2022 and December 2022.
However, after receiving the funds, the businesswoman vanished, severing all communication with Veracruz.
The suspicious investor reported the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), leading to an investigation that uncovered the fraudulent nature of the contract.
The detectives found that Nguthu had used the money to purchase a high-end vehicle Range Rover KDM 311 L and had fabricated her professional credentials, falsely claiming associations with reputable organisations and retained a job as a personal physician for the First Lady.
She was later arrested and detained at Capitol Hill Police Station for a week as detectives unearthed her alleged shoddy business deals.
During her incarceration at the police station, Nguthu hit headlines after a miscarriage and collapsing before the then trial Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi who has since been elevated to a judge of the High Court.
In her defence, Nguthu claimed that she bought her Range Rover through a loan advanced by NCBA bank where she was servicing the facility at KES 300,000 a month.
She added that the investor had lied to the court that she conned him to buy the fuel guzzler.
"Indeed l was a successful business lady long before I met Veracruz. He met me when l was already driving my Range Rover," she said.
Nguthu who is now undertaking piloting classes revealed that the Nigerian investor took advantage of her and urged women not to fall prey to men who pretend to be rich and willing to give them a happy life.
She confessed that she has since re-united with her former husband and is now eyeing the Nairobi Woman Representative seat.
The businesslady also said that she is impressed by the way the current Head of State is developing the country thereby igniting her interest to join politics in 2027.
She further disclosed that in this year's Valentine, she hosted over 6,000 in Jakaranda grounds to celebrate valentine for president William Ruto where she had bought a cake of KES 150,000.
She thanked the judiciary for tilting the wheels of justice in her favour.
Ms Mugo ordered she get back her cash bail.
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