Paul Kobia isn’t known to Kenya political scene, he is full of controversies, he is known to comment on anything touches on president Uhuru Kenyatta whom he terms as his close friend.
Already the Barclays bank has closed his account accounts a move he now claims is related to new regulations requiring individuals to reveal the source of any money flowing into their accounts.
Mr. Kobia has sued the Central Bank of Kenya and Attorney General Paul Kihara Kariuki claiming that Barclays’ decision was made following new rules that require individuals and institutions to reveal the source of money coming in or going out of their bank accounts.
According to the UN Report released in 2011, the Kobia uses seven different names to con unsuspecting clients among the names include Paul Ilunga Ngoei, Paul Ilunga Choma and Paul Ilunga Kabeberia.
Kobia is reported to have a customs office at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport “which only operates at night.” It has seven doors, only accessed through fingerprint and retina scanning.
According to UN investigators, he has (or once had access to) a Government of Kenya seal and letterheads from several government and private institutions.
He was once claimed that he is commander in chief of armed forces and at one time dared to shoot anyone who talks ill of Uhuru.
He once claimed to be the first Kenyan to import Audi Q7 where he spent sh 16 million for two range rovers.
His education background isn’t known to any though he claims to be extremely wealthy.
In November 2011, he was named in a UN report as a key suspect involved in the illegal smuggling of gold from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In 2011, DRC President Joseph Kabila alleged Kobia was one of the people who stole 2.5 tonnes gold worth Sh8 billion from his country.
The UN report alleged that Kobia carries a false Congolese passport under the name Ilunga Ngoei (or Paul Ilunga).
He once told a newspaper that he was nicknamed Ilunga Ngoei or ‘Prezda’ (president) by his friends from DRC because of their respect for him.
In 2009, using the name Paul Ilunga Ngoei, Kobia allegedly received $350,000 (Sh35 million) from the US-based Community Finance Group as part payment in a deal for 300kg of raw gold, a deal that turned out to be a con.