Gospel musician Alex Apoko, popularly known as Ringtone, will spend the weekend in police custody after being detained pending a ruling on his bail application scheduled for Monday. Ringtone was arraigned on Thursday under a warrant of arrest after missing several court appearances related to charges of defrauding a businesswoman of her land valued at Sh50 million in Nairobi’s Karen area.
According to the charge sheet, Ringtone allegedly conspired with Alfred Juma Ayora on or before February 28, 2023, to defraud Teresiah Adhiambo of a parcel of land measuring 0.1908 hectares (approximately 0.47 acres). The gospel singer reportedly attempted to take over the land by claiming adverse possession, asserting that he had lived on the property for over two decades.
Ayora, who had taken a plea on March 28, faced an additional count of providing false information. He was accused of falsely swearing an affidavit before authorized officials, claiming to have resided on the disputed land for 20 years. Ayora pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Ringtone was directed by the court to appear for plea-taking two weeks after Ayora’s plea, but he failed to show up. The court ordered his presence on April 14 to enter a plea and commence pre-trial proceedings. However, he again did not appear, leading to the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
His lawyer stated that Ringtone had fallen ill on April 10 and was treated and discharged at Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital. Later, his condition reportedly worsened on April 13 in Nairobi, resulting in his admission to Trinity Care Centre in Ngong. Despite these claims, the court rejected the illness explanation due to lack of supporting documents. Milimani senior principal magistrate Dolphina Alego emphasized that there was no proof explaining why Ringtone had missed court sessions before issuing the arrest warrant.
Ringtone was scheduled to appear on May 7, but once again failed to attend. The arrest warrant remained active until his eventual arraignment on May 15, where he denied all charges.
During the hearing, the prosecution requested that bail be denied, arguing that Ringtone was a flight risk after repeatedly absconding from court. The accused pleaded for release on bail, citing his poor health and need for medical attention. The magistrate ruled that Ringtone be remanded in custody until May 19, when a pre-bail report would be presented in court to guide further decisions.
The case centers around allegations of land fraud, a crime that has seen increasing attention in Nairobi’s upscale Karen neighborhood, where land values are high and ownership disputes are common. Adverse possession, the legal doctrine Ringtone attempted to invoke, allows a person to claim ownership of land after continuous possession for a certain period, but it requires clear proof and legal procedures which the court found lacking in this case.
The businesswoman, Teresiah Adhiambo, alleges she was defrauded of her land through a conspiracy that involved fraudulent documents and sworn affidavits. If found guilty, the accused face serious consequences under Kenyan law for conspiracy to defraud and providing false information to the court.
Ringtone’s legal troubles highlight the challenges of land ownership disputes and the importance of adhering to legal processes. His absence from court for several months drew frustration from the judiciary, which eventually led to the issuance of the arrest warrant to compel his presence.
As the case proceeds, the coming pre-bail report will likely assess the musician’s health and the risk of fleeing, influencing whether he will be released on bail or remain in custody until trial. Meanwhile, the allegations cast a shadow on Ringtone’s public image, raising questions about the conduct of public figures involved in property disputes.
The situation remains dynamic as the court prepares to determine bail conditions and move the case forward. It serves as a reminder of the judiciary’s efforts to enforce accountability, even among well-known personalities, and the ongoing fight against land fraud in Kenya.
