Interpol has flagged Sh. 25 billion that was reportedly laundered by a Kenyan politician and three Nigerians and sent to multiple banks in Kenya and Europe.
According to a report that appeared in local business newspaper Business Daily, the powerful Kenyan politician and two Kenyans wired Sh. 25.6 billion between October and November 2020.
The report said that the cash movement over the two months involved over 10 companies owned by the same individuals and registered under near-identical names in Kenya, Dubai, US, Nigeria and Ghana.
“A Kenyan politician and the Nigerians have been placed at the centre of the multi-billion shilling dealings that Kenya’s Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) and Interpol suspect are part of a money-laundering scheme, with sources of the cash believed to be a criminal enterprise,” the report said.
It added that the transactions into the Kenyan accounts were done in 69 tranches. Out of these, the highest single transfer was Sh. 3.1 billion.
“The money was wired into Kenya bank accounts under the name of RemX Limited from a company with the same name registered in Nigeria in 2018 with a listing number 1541891,” the report said. “
The report said that the billions were later wired to RemX Inc, Multigate Limited and RemX Capital Ltd over the two months of October and November 2020. This left a balance of Sh. 2.9 billion or nearly 10 percent of the cash that flowed to the Kenyan accounts.
“RemX Ltd is owned by Nehikhare Eghosasere and Demuren Olufemi Olukunmi. RemX Ltd in Kenya was registered on December 10, 2019. Its address is in Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue. The three Nigerians also own RemX Capital Ltd, which is registered in Nairobi” the report said. “Its other owners are RemX Holding Kenya Ltd, which is listed in Dubai and has Kenyan directors John Kisilu Kamusina and Evalyne Wawira Gachoki.”
The report also noted that Eghosasere and Olukunmi also own RemX Investments Partners Limited with an address at Britam Towers. “Multigate Ltd is registered in Kenya as a financial technology company and is owned by Multigate Holding Kenya Ltd, which is registered in Dubai and its shareholders are the three Nigerians” it added.
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Other shadowy firms that linked to the billions are OIT Africa Ltd and Avalon Offshore Logistics. Avalon Offshore is owned by Nigerians Jeffrey Nnaoma Michaels and Uduma Okoro Christopher Kalu. The company was registered in November 2020 and has its address in Westlands.
“OIT Africa is owned by Vionnah Akoth Odongo and Kenneth Odongo Raminya, with 500 shares each, and the company was registered on July 14, 2017. OIT Africa claims that it operates from 680 Plaza, the building that hosts the 680 Hotel,” the report said.