Directors of Landmark Freight Services Limited have defended the legality of a multi-million-shilling land deal, telling a Nairobi court that the company lawfully acquired and later sold a contested parcel of land valued at Ksh1.6 billion.
Testifying before Milimani Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi on Friday, Bharat Ramji Manji, one of the company’s directors, said the land, measuring 0.6724 hectares and registered as Land Reference Number 21068, was secured with a perimeter wall and private security before it was sold.
“We occupied the land, and after some time, we found a buyer and sold it. We paid stamp duty of Ksh640,000, with the land initially valued at Ksh15 million,” Manji told the court, referring to the original acquisition made on December 20, 2011.
Manji said Landmark Freight Services later sold the property in 2018 to PayPal Freight Company Limited for Ksh160 million, with the transaction handled through an agent. Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamp duty documents supporting the sale were presented in court as evidence.
He further told the court he was unaware of any dispute regarding the land until a court notice was served last year. He dismissed claims that Landmark Freight lacked legal ownership, saying no challenges had arisen until the current proceedings.
The legal battle revolves around allegations that John Gitau Ngumi, Atek Otech, and Bernard Otieno Mallo conspired with others not before the court to fraudulently claim ownership of the same property. Prosecutors accuse them of attempting to seize the land by misrepresenting themselves as its rightful owners.
A lawyer who oversaw the 2018 land transaction also testified, confirming the legality of the sale and reinforcing Landmark Freight’s position.
The hearing is ongoing.
Written By Rodney Mbua
