A Kenyan billionaire who reportedly disappeared to the UK has lost an extradition case after nine years.
According to a report by Daily Nation, Yagnesh Devani, a billionaire at the center of a Ksh7.6 billion oil case, had appealed against his extradition at the court of appeal.
The tycoon was reportedly well connected to powerful figures during former President Daniel Moi's regime where he allegedly earned most of his fortune.
The troubles began in 2008 when he was found with 96,000 tonnes of petroleum without approval from authorities.
He then became dodgy about the issue until June 2009 when he appeared in a Kenyan court and took a plea.
Later that year, the billionaire is said to have fled to Britain.
In the UK, he filed an appeal against his extradition to Kenya, a case that was heard by Court of Appeal judges Nicholas Underhill, Nicola Davies and Stephen Males.
The case was heard on February 12 and a verdict delivered on May 7, 2020, which he lost.
In 2009, Devani was charged alongside other suspects including Benedict Mutua from Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), Julius Kilonzo from Triton Company, and Peter Mecha from KPC among others.
The issue started when the suspects from KPC pleaded not guilty for offering oil to the tycoon before the then Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko dropped his case to the chagrin of the public.
That was despite a warrant of arrest being issued against him. 24 hours later, another warrant of arrest was issued.
The case was revived in 2019 when the Anti-Corruption Court in Kenya allowed more witness statements to be introduced.
With the UK verdict, the billionaire risks being prosecuted in Kenya.
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