Businessman Chris Obure faces fraud charges in contested Senteu Plaza case

Obure was arraigned in court on January 28, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty to four counts: conspiracy to commit a felony, providing false information to a public officer, forgery, and uttering false documents.

His arrest followed investigations by detectives from the Serious Crime Unit, supported by forensic document examiners from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

According to court documents, investigators allege that Obure forged a Binding Board Resolution, purportedly authorizing SBS Dunhill Group to purchase Senteu Plaza from its rightful owners, ACS & Others. Detectives claim Obure presented the forged document as genuine in an attempt to fraudulently claim ownership of the property.

During the hearing on July 8, 2025, Mr. Pankaj Chahhaganlal Shah, a director of ACS & Others, testified that his company has always been the lawful owner of the building.

He told the court that SBS Dunhill Group had only leased office premises on the first floor of Senteu Plaza from October 2017 until August 2023.

He further alleged that Obure’s company defaulted on rental payments and unlawfully occupied the premises after the lease expired, vacating only after eviction orders were issued by the Business Premises Rent Tribunal.

Mr. Shah dismissed the alleged Binding Board Resolution, stating he had never seen or signed such a document. He also disputed the authenticity of the signature attributed to his business partner and denied knowledge of the stamp used.

The prosecution further strengthened its case during the September 1, 2025 session, when a forensic document examiner testified that the signatures on the contested resolution were forgeries.

The expert’s report highlighted irregularities such as identical duplicates, superimposed matches, and handwriting inconsistencies.

Investigating officers also told the court they had retrieved signature specimens from bank records of ACS and SBS, which, after forensic comparison, revealed significant anomalies.

The matter will be mentioned on September 17, 2025, when the court is expected to rule on the next stage of the trial.