Mombasa — Ann Njeri Njoroge, the woman at the centre of the alleged importation of Sh17 billion worth of 100,000 metric tonnes of diesel, has expressed fears over her life.
She has narrated her four-day ordeals in the hands of her abductors.
The woman reportedly went missing following her statement recording at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters last Thursday.
Five days after her alleged disappearance, Njeri, accompanied by her lawyers Cliff Ombeta and David Chumo to Mombasa Law Courts on Tuesday morning.
Ombeta and Chumo were poised to file a habeas corpus application at the Mombasa High Court.
Outside the Mombasa High Court, Njeri shared her harrowing experience, stating, " I was kept in a house in the middle of Karura forest for four days. I was being coerced to withdraw the case."
Njoroge has insisted that she is the owner of the 100,000 metric tonnes of diesel imported into the country, despite claims by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) that Njeri had forged documents to steal the fuel from the government.
According to KPA, the consignment's shipper is identified as Aramco Trading Fujairah, and the consignee as Galana Energies.
Aramco is one of the three International Oil Companies (IOCs) appointed by the government to supply oil to Kenya, while Galana Energies is one of three counterparts allowed to import oil on behalf of the IOCs.
Njeri said while she was seeking the necessary licenses from the Energy Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the Energy Cabinet Secretary informed her that the diesel belonged to Galana, advising her to report the matter to the DCI headquarters.
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She then went missing.
Ombeta said, "Njeri was told she would die if she did not leave the oil and withdraw the case from the Mombasa High Court. Despite the ordeal, Njeri remained resolute."
"The threats to kill her were real. She stood her ground and continued to say the truth. When they realized she would not break down, they promised to release her on condition," said Ombeta.
The conditions were that she needed to withdraw the case, not to talk to her lawyers and to leave the country.
"Then they realized that there is a habeas corpus application in court and that they would be needed to produce her," said Ombeta.
She was released on Monday morning.
Njeri, who was shaken by her abduction, said she had booked a Monday 10pm flight to leave the country, but her lawyers advised her against it.
Ombeta emphasized that they would not withdraw the case.
"We are not withdrawing the case, we are saying clearly the case must go on and that impunity must end," he said.
