Kenya Insights

Tag: Nyama Mama

  • Nyama Mama’s Director Wheeled To Court In Oxygen Cylinder To Remain In Police Custody

    Nyama Mama’s Director Wheeled To Court In Oxygen Cylinder To Remain In Police Custody

    A co-director of the popular city restaurant Nyama Mama facing charges of fraudulently obtaining Sh520 million from a local bank will remain in custody pending a ruling on whether she will be released on bail.

    Nina Shanghavi presented herself in court three weeks after a warrant for her arrest was issued after she failed to appear in court alongside her husband to face the charges.

    Milimani senior resident magistrate Wandia Nyamu directed the accused who presented herself in court while on a wheelchair with an oxygen cylinder to be admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital, under the supervision of Lang’ata Women prison.

    She denied the charges and the prosecution opposed her release on bail application, saying the accused had breached the previous court orders requiring her to appear for plea taking.

    “The accused person has demonstrated that she has no respect for the court, because she had to wait until an arrest warrant was issued against her,” said the prosecutor.

    Nina is charged alongside her husband Jayesh Umedlal who is out on bail.

    The duo, who are both directors of Good Earth Group are believed to be the owners of various restaurants, bars and shopping malls in Nairobi was jointly charged with others not before court with intent to defraud Victoria Commercial Bank Limited. Jayesh is also believed to be the owner of Mr Yao, Blue Door Bar and Nyama Mama Restaurants.

    The court heard that the accused persons wanted the bank to execute a first legal charge over Crystal Edge Apartment Number B2 erected on Land in Nairobi to secure a loan of Sh520,000,000 as a valuable security.

    The court heard that they committed the offence on diverse dates between December 10, 2018 and November 2020 in Nairobi.

    According to court documents, Jayesh and Nina are the two directors of the Good Earth Group limited which entered into an agreement with the bank and began borrowing loans from the bank from 2015 to November 2020.

    Properties provided by the duo to the bank as security was of varied type and value, including properties owned by their company, bank deposits from their alien accounts among others.

  • Nyama Mama Directors Charged With Sh520M Fraud

    Nyama Mama Directors Charged With Sh520M Fraud

    The director of popular food joint Nyama Mama has beencharged with obtaining a Sh520 million loan using fraudulent security.

    Jayesh Shanghavi is the director of Good Earth Ltd alongside his wife Ninaa Shanghavi who was absent in court and a warrant of arrest was issued against her.

    Principal magistrate Wandia Nyamu last Friday issued the warrant of arrest after the prosecution made an application before court.

    Good Earth Ltd is the company behind Nyama Mama, Blue Door, Yao and Deli and Bakery.

    It is alleged that on diverse dates between December 10, 2018 and November 2020 in Nairobi with intent to defraud, jointly with others not before court, they induced Victoria Commercial Bank Limited to execute a first legal charge over apartment Number B2.

    The apartment is erected on land in Nairobi, namely Crystal Edge Apartment, to secure the amount of Sh520 million as a valuable security.

    Police records said that the couple, who are directors of Good Earth Group, entered into an agreement with Victoria Bank and began borrowing since 2015 and continued to acquire more loans from the bank up until November 2020.

    Victoria Commercial Bank said that the two obtained loans from them in 2018/2019 but deliberately prevented perfection of security.

    According to court documents, the duo got a colossal amount from the financial institution on the premises that “the collateral to be issued was being processed and would be registered accordingly”.

    It claims that even after the facilities were extended to the business, the security was never perfected in spite of numerous promises to do so and was never presented to the bank as anticipated for registration.

    Through lawyers Edwin Saluny and Eric Kaburu, Shanghavi told court that he is a Tanzanian who operates his businesses in Kenya.

    He pleaded for lenient bond terms, saying the accused will adhere to all conditions set by the court and will appear in court whenever he is needed to.

    Magistrate Nyamu released him on bail, saying she had considered that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    She ordered him to deposit  of Sh400,000 cash bail or an alternative bond of Sh1 million.

    The case will be mentioned on December 8.