Oil tycoon Ann Njeri Njoroge, the woman involved in the controversial Ksh17 billion oil consignment, narrated her ordeal, which unfolded shortly after recording a statement at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.
While addressing journalists outside the High Court in Mombasa on Tuesday, Njoroge disclosed that she was dumped in a forest after the abductors absolved her of any accusations levelled against her.
Her plight, she alleged, began moments after she applied for permits at the Energy Petroleum and Regulatory Authority (EPRA) as part of the due procedure for importing the 100,000 metric tonnes of oil.
However, her consignment was held at the Mombasa Port by the authorities, occasioning her to seek assistance from Energy CS Davis Chirchir. Chirchir, on Monday, concurred with Njoroge, stating that he directed her to file a report at the DCI headquarters.
"I applied at EPRA, paid according to the law and been waiting to receive a permit. As I waited, I went to visit CS Chirchir who told me that the oil didn't belong to me but to Galana Energies Limited. I told him that I had not sold it to anyone or signed anything with Galana Energies Limited hence it's mine. He told me it's not possible and directed me to report to the DCI," she stated.
Moments later, she caught herself in a web of what she argued was a well-choreographed abduction. Njoroge was allegedly directed to record a statement in another adjacent room, only to find that it was a basement.
"The officers asked me if I had taken any drugs, and I said no. When they took me to a car, I was told to surrender my phone and give out the password, and I complied. They took me to an unknown place. I asked why I was separated from my lawyers, but they didn't respond."
The missing businesswoman narrated that she kept pleading with her abductors to release her, but they dismissed her prayers. Owing to the fear of losing her life, she began crying and begging them to spare her life.
"When we arrived at an unknown location at night, I pleaded with them not to kill me, as my family was depending on me. They assured me that nothing would happen," she added.
Shortly after, another car allegedly arrived, and Njoroge was blindfolded before being ferried to another location. Here, she was chained to a room, and a balaclava was placed over her head, sparing her eyes only.
Njoroge claimed that she realised she was highly guarded by security guards who were dressed in full uniform. Inside the room also was a mattress and a CCTV camera.
According to Njoroge, she slept that night thinking it would be her last day. The following day, her abductors opened the room and began questioning her but also threatened to kill her lest she disclosed the truth behind the consignment.
"I told them the truth that I was the owner of the consignment. The officers departed from the room and came back hours later, informing me that they would release me since I had done no wrong. I was blindfolded and thrown out into a forest," she stated but did not reveal the exact location.
Her lawyer Cliff Ombeta accused the government of orchestrating Njoroge's abduction and suspected that unscrupulous power brokers wanted a stake in the Ksh17 billion oil consignment.
"She was also threatened to return the other four consignments she was to bring. The court had ordered the ship to be detained, but it was discharged. The ship's captain also confirmed that he was threatened over the matter, with the people accusing him of colluding with Ann.
"What kind of law is this? If the government itself is corrupt, then how can we operate? She has retrieved oil consignments on many occasions, so why is it a problem now?" Ombeta wondered.
