More suspects in custody over BNR house saga, case goes to prosecution
Wednesday, September 07, 2022
Anatole Muhizi presenting his isssue to the President.According to Rwanda Investigation Bureau, more suspects have been arrested over BNR house saga. Photo / Olivier Mugwiza

The National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) has received the case files of Anatole Muhizi, Jean-Léon Rutagengwa and Alphonsine Nibigira who are pinned in various crimes related to fraud involving the sale of a house.

According to investigation body spokesperson, Thierry Murangira the case was submitted to the NPPA on September 5.

Muhizi is suspected of discrediting a decision of judicial organs while Rutagengwa and his wife Nibigira are charged with using forged documents.

The house in question is located in Kamonyi District and was originally owned by Rutagengwa who later on sold it to Muhizi, who recently made claims to President Paul Kagame that he had been victimized by different government institutions and ended up losing his house.

During a recent citizen outreach tour in Nyamasheke District, Muhizi claimed that the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) had colluded with the Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority to rip him off of a house he claimed he rightfully acquired.

However, it turned out that actually, he defied a court order to vacate the house after he lost several court cases.

Muhizi told President Kagame that the national bank instructed the land centre to not allow him to transfer ownership of the house he had rightfully acquired.

The President tasked the Minister of Local Government Jean-Marie Vianney Gatabazi and Deputy Inspector General of Police Felix Namuhoranye to expeditiously handle Muhizi’s case.

However, a few days later Muhizi ended up behind bars after a preliminary investigation established he had lied

Previously Murangira, told The New Times that the preliminary investigation findings show that he was dishonest in his claim.

"Muhizi defied a court order to vacate the house that had been legally auctioned. The house in question was built on a mortgage facility acquired by Rutagengwa by BNR worth Rwf31 million,” Murangira said in an earlier interview.

When Rutagengwa, a former BNR employee defaulted on the loan, the bank went to court and won the case, then the bank wrote to the land centre requesting the imposition of a caveat on the house.