[2020] KEHC 3502 (KLR)

[2020] KEHC 3502 (KLR)

The court found that the Plaintiffs did not knowingly or voluntarily charge their property to secure an overdraft facility for the 2nd and 3rd Defendants. The evidence showed that the Plaintiffs intended to obtain a loan for their own business, not for Monitor Press, and that the charge was registered without their...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2020] KEHC 3502 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Peter Nganga Njonge and Sarah Mwihaki Nganga (as Administrators of the estate of the late Nganga Njoroge); Defendant: Euro Bank Limited; Defendant: Joseph Murage Gatebu; Defendant: Felly Gatebu; Defendant: Muriuki Njagagua
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Civil Case 1489 of 1999
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Judgment
Outcome
Plaintiffs' suit allowed in terms of prayers (a) and (b); general damages awarded; 1st Defendant's counterclaim dismissed with costs.
Legal Topics
Fraudulent Charge, Banking Facility Dispute, Land Control Board Consent, Power of Attorney, General Damages, Counterclaim Dismissal
Source Language
en
Land and Property Commercial and Corporate Fraudulent Charge Banking Facility Dispute Land Control Board Consent Power of Attorney General Damages Counterclaim Dismissal

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Downloadable case file Legal principles 5 Authorities cited 7 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Peter Nganga Njonge and Sarah Mwihaki Nganga (as Administrators of the estate of the late Nganga Njoroge)

Plaintiff

Euro Bank Limited

Defendant

Joseph Murage Gatebu

Defendant

Felly Gatebu

Defendant

Muriuki Njagagua

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Case / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the suit property LR NO. Kiambaa/Waguthu/369 was properly and legally charged to the 1st Defendant Bank in the amount of Kshs.25,546,754.60.
  2. 2 Whether the Plaintiff owes the 1st Defendant the sum of Kshs.25,546,754.60 as claimed in the Counter-Claim dated 18th October 2004.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the Plaintiffs did not knowingly or voluntarily charge their property to secure an overdraft facility for the 2nd and 3rd Defendants. The evidence showed that the Plaintiffs intended to obtain a loan for their own business, not for Monitor Press, and that the charge was registered without their proper consent or authority. The application for Land Control Board consent was improperly signed by an advocate who was neither instructed nor authorized by the Plaintiffs. The 1st Defendant failed to produce key documentation supporting the alleged facility to Monitor Press, and the absence of testimony from material witnesses (including the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Defendants and...

Court Disposition

Plaintiffs' suit allowed in terms of prayers (a) and (b); general damages awarded; 1st Defendant's counterclaim dismissed with costs.

Orders

  • A declaration that the charge in favour of the 1st Defendant over LR NO. Kiambaa/Waguthu/369 is null and void.
  • An order that the suit premises be freed from any encumbrances pursuant to the said charge and a duly executed and stamped discharge of charge be delivered to the Plaintiffs for registration.