Wash Wash: City Lawyer Dennis Onyango Accused of Defrauding Norwegian Investor of Sh52 Million

A Norwegian businessman has approached the Kenyan courts seeking urgent orders to freeze bank accounts belonging to a Nairobi-based law firm, claiming he was defrauded of over Sh52 million in a botched gold investment deal.

John Birger Silheim filed the case against lawyer Dennis Onyango, who operates under the name Dennis Onyango & Associates, alleging that the advocate has refused to return USD 403,097 (approximately Sh52.2 million) deposited for a gold purchase transaction that never materialized.

The case, which has been pending for over a year, has seen the Norwegian investor express frustration over repeated delays in court proceedings. Through his legal team comprising Felix Keaton, Vincent Yegon, and Dr. Philip Lagat, Silheim questioned why the matter has remained unresolved despite its urgency.

According to court documents, the Norwegian businessman made four separate deposits between August and December 2023 from his personal bank account in Norway directly into Onyango’s Stanbic Bank account at the Chiromo branch. The deposits were made in amounts of USD 87,097, USD 86,000, USD 130,000, and USD 100,000 respectively, all intended for gold procurement purposes.

Silheim told the court that since the proposed gold transaction failed to materialize, there was no longer any legal basis for the law firm to retain his funds. He claims that despite repeated requests, Onyango’s firm has “failed, refused, and neglected” to return the money.

The investor has expressed concerns that the lawyer may have already used or transferred the funds for personal benefit. “I am afraid that lawyer Onyango may transfer, use, misuse, expend and or deal with the monies in one way or another without the authority of the applicant, hence occasioning a massive loss to me,” Silheim stated in his court filing.

Adding to the complexity of the case, the Norwegian alleges that Onyango presented him with fraudulent documents, including a forged letter purportedly from Stanbic Bank. The investor claims the bank has since denied issuing such correspondence, raising questions about potential document forgery.

Silheim is seeking court orders to freeze the specific account held at Stanbic Bank’s Chiromo/Westlands branch pending the hearing and determination of the main case. He has also requested the court to compel the bank to provide a comprehensive statement of account activities.

The case highlights growing concerns about investment fraud targeting foreign investors in Kenya’s gold trade sector. For nearly two years, the Norwegian has been pursuing legal remedies to recover his substantial investment, while calling on Stanbic Bank to verify how their official letterhead and contact information were allegedly used in the disputed transaction.

The matter remains pending before the Milimani Law Courts, with the investor maintaining he has strong prospects of success in recovering his funds.