How Fraud Suspect Nicholas Abong’o Walked Into a Police Trap After Wife’s Arrest

A man facing multiple fraud charges involving land transactions unwittingly led himself into the hands of detectives after attempting to secure the release of his arrested wife.

Nicholas Abong’o was apprehended on February 3 at the Kilifi Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices after showing up to demand the release of his wife, Precious Mbindyo, who had been arrested a day earlier. Mbindyo had been taken into custody when detectives, seeking Abong’o, raided his premises, prompting him to flee.

Their troubles began after Kilifi lands registrar Billow Mohamed flagged a fraudulent land transaction on January 31, allegedly orchestrated by Abong’o. Upon noticing the irregularities, Mohamed alerted the DCI, triggering an investigation that culminated in the couple’s arrest.

Court Denies Bail

During a court session last Friday, Kilifi Principal Magistrate Ivy Wasike declined to release Abong’o on bond or cash bail, citing his history of evading authorities and the potential threat he posed to witnesses.

“The prosecution stated that tracing him was difficult, and it was only when they arrested the second accused (Ms Mbindyo) that he walked into the DCI office to demand her release and, in the process, assaulted officers,” Magistrate Wasike said.

While fraud charges alone were not enough to deny bail, the court emphasized Abong’o’s pattern of defying legal processes, making him a flight risk and a potential danger to complainants, particularly the primary victim, a person with a disability.

His wife, Mbindyo, was granted a bond of Sh250,000 with a surety of the same amount.

Serial Offender

Abong’o and Mbindyo are facing 10 counts of fraud, including impersonating an advocate of the High Court. The prosecution, led by Nancy Njeru, argued that Abong’o had continued his fraudulent activities while out on bond in other cases.

Investigating Officer Dennis Mutoka swore an affidavit detailing Abong’o’s involvement in high-stakes land fraud, an issue that has caused significant unrest in Kilifi County. The prosecution further stated that Abong’o’s actions jeopardized the legal profession by impersonating a lawyer and that he was a security risk to victims.

Magistrate Wasike underscored Abong’o’s blatant disregard for the law, noting that despite being out on bond for previous fraud charges involving Sh1.2 million, he continued engaging in similar offenses, including a pending case of sexual assault.

“The accused’s continued complaints leading to new charges while out on bond is disturbing public order and undermining the rule of law,” she ruled.

Fake Lawyer, Stolen Land Documents, and a Trail of Evidence

Court documents revealed that Abong’o instructed an accomplice, Beauty Kasichana, to present fraudulent land documents for property registered under Maclean Mbui R. Mwavita. The documents, which were intended to transfer land to eight individuals, were flagged as suspicious.

Detectives arrested Kasichana and recovered crucial evidence, including fraudulent court documents, land transfer papers, and a fake advocate’s stamp, during a raid at Abong’o’s office in the KITECO building in Kilifi town.

With mounting evidence and multiple ongoing fraud cases, the court determined that Abong’o’s continued release would compromise investigations and public safety.

His next court appearance is set for later this month as authorities dig deeper into his extensive fraud network.