A businesswoman who claimed in court that her marriage collapsed after she befriended a Nigerian tycoon who later had her charged with allegedly defrauding him of Sh25 million has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Milimani Law Court.
Ms Faith Mwikali Ndiwa, alias Faith Nguthu, walked to freedom on September 9, 2026, after Magistrate Caroline Mugo ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove its case against her.
Nguthu, who has expressed interest in contesting the Nairobi woman representative seat, spoke of the frustrations, embarrassment and woes she said befell her after she allegedly befriended Nigerian investor Jude Olabaya Veracruz, a bank chief executive in Nigeria.
She claimed she was kicked out of her marriage after the father of her three children discovered that she was involved with the investor.
“My husband chased me away after social media splashed the information that I was seeing a Nigerian investor, Veracruz,” Nguthu told the Milimani Law Courts.
Faith Mwikali Ndiwa alias Faith Nguthu, at the Milimani courts on September 9, 2026, where she was acquitted in a Sh25m fraud case.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada| Nation Media Group
She also claimed the foreigner had imposed himself on her after learning that she was a successful businesswoman running a chemist and spa while working in the ticketing department at Wilson Airport.
“Indeed, the Nigerian was my friend after we met through the spa business. He developed an interest in me and forced a relationship on me, which I declined,” she said.
Nguthu made the revelations shortly after she was acquitted of charges of forgery and defrauding Veracruz of Sh25 million.
“After analysing all the evidence tendered by the prosecution, I find that no case has been proved against Faith Mwikali Ndiwa, alias Faith Nguthu. I hereby acquit her under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code for lack of evidence,” Ms Mugo ruled.
The magistrate noted that prosecution witnesses, including Veracruz, had failed to present tangible evidence to prove the allegations that Nguthu had conned him of Sh25 million and forged Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) tender documents while claiming that she worked for a relative of the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Ms Mugo faulted the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for failing to present key witnesses, weakening the prosecution’s case.
The court had been told that the alleged fraud began in May 2022, before Nguthu was arrested on May 18, 2024.
She faced charges of forgery, falsifying contract documents and obtaining money by false pretences.
The prosecution accused her of orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme that allegedly duped Veracruz of Sh25 million.
Faith Mwikali Ndiwa addresses journalists at the Milimani Law Courts on September 9, 2026, after being acquitted in the Sh25 million fraud and forgery case.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada| Nation Media Group
According to the prosecution, the alleged fraud began in May 2022 when Nguthu presented herself to Veracruz as an investor seeking financial advice. Veracruz, a bank CEO in Nigeria, initially advised her on managing a Sh70 million project.
Building on their engagement, she later proposed what she described as a lucrative business opportunity involving a contract to supply mosquito nets. She allegedly claimed that she worked for a relative of Mr Odinga.
Nguthu allegedly convinced Veracruz to invest in the purported project by promising significant returns.
She allegedly backed her claims with forged documents including a fake framework contract and an amendment, which she claimed related to a tender with KEMSA.
The prosecution said the alleged deception led Veracruz to transfer Sh25 million in instalments between June and December 2022.
However, after receiving the money, Nguthu allegedly cut off communication with Veracruz.
The investor reported the matter to the DCI, prompting investigations that established, according to the prosecution, that the contract was fraudulent.
Detectives further alleged that Nguthu used part of the money to purchase a high-end Range Rover and fabricated her professional credentials. She was also accused of falsely claiming associations with reputable organisations and of having worked as a personal physician to the First Lady.
Faith Mwikali Ndiwa addresses journalists at the Milimani Law Courts on September 9, 2026, after being acquitted in the Sh25 million fraud and forgery case.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada| Nation Media Group
She was later arrested and detained at Capitol Hill Police Station for a week as detectives investigated her alleged business dealings.
During her detention, Nguthu made headlines after suffering a miscarriage and collapsing before then trial magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, who has since been elevated to the High Court.
In her defence, Nguthu said she had bought the Range Rover through a loan from NCBA Bank, on which she was servicing monthly repayments of Sh300,000.
She said she had since reunited with her former husband and was now eyeing the Nairobi Woman Representative seat.
