Controversial musician Ringtone denied bail, remanded over Sh50million land fraud case
A Nairobi court has denied bail to Gospel singer Alex Apoko, popularly known as Ringtone, who is accused of defrauding a woman of a parcel of land in Karen worth Sh50 million.
While appearing before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego yesterday, the magistrate declined to release Apoko and his co-accused, Alfred Juma Ayora, after they pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud businesswoman Teresia Adhiambo Odhiambo.
The magistrate directed that Apoko be remanded at the Industrial Area Prison until Monday next week, May 19, 2025 when a pre-bail report will be presented in court. Apoko and Ayora face multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, false swearing, and perjury.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the two are accused of conspiring to fraudulently acquire land measuring 0.1908 hectares in Karen by falsely claiming adverse possession.
The prosecution alleges that on February 28, 2023, they conspired to defraud Odhiambo by asserting that Ayora had occupied the land for over 20 years, a claim the ODPP says was knowingly false.
The two are accused of unlawfully taking possession of a property belonging to Teresia Athiambo Odhiambo, an offence allegedly committed on February 28, 2023.
Ayora is further accused of swearing a false affidavit before Advocate and Commissioner for Oaths S.M. Katonya, claiming he had lived on the land, registered as Nairobi/Block 99/142, for two decades.
In a related charge of perjury, Ayora allegedly gave false testimony in a judicial proceeding before the Environment and Land Court in Case No. E012 of 2023 (OS), where he was the petitioner and Odhiambo and the Chief Land Registrar were the respondents.
The prosecution submitted to the court that he knowingly lied in an affidavit filed in court about residing on the disputed land.
Apoko appeared in court after a warrant for his arrest was issued on May 7, 2025, for failing to attend two prior court sessions. During the court proceedings, the singer claimed he was unwell and requested lenient bond terms.
However, the court ordered his detention until May 19, 2025 when his bail application will be determined.
