On Wednesday, the Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison, slapped a lawsuit on a property development outfit in Hennepin County for allegedly fleecing Somali families eager to buy homes. The case centers on accusations against Nolosha Development LLC, run by Abdiwali Abdullahi, claimed to have pulled the wool over consumers’ eyes with dodgy sales pitches regarding a community project in Lakeville, according to an official release.
According to the lawsuit, Nolosha allegedly spun tales about single-family homes, offering only multifamily ones instead. They also purported to offer enticing zero-interest, 20-year payment plans. However, customers later found they’d need either a hefty loan or deep pockets. Additionally, while the company claimed homes would be ready by November 2023 and more by May 2024, they hadn’t bought the land or laid any groundwork. What’s more, Nolosha promised the community amenities like halal markets and mosques that simply won’t be there when the houses are done.
Nolosha’s lawyer, David Aafedt, has been contacted by Minnesota Lawyer but Nolosha still needs to scramble to resolve these allegations.
The Attorney General is pushing to call a halt to these misleading maneuvers and aims to secure refunds for the many affected families. Ellison’s office recently moved to compel the company to cooperate in their digging, seeking transparency and accountability.
Ellison made his stance clear, “When you’re hawking a product, honesty is the best policy. Swindling people with big promises and snatching upfront cash calls for legal action. After fielding heaps of complaints, we discovered Nolosha’s deceit and are determined to put a stop to it.” His grave words underline a commitment to justice.
The Attorney General’s office got wind of Nolosha’s shenanigans in 2023, after numerous whispers of fraud popped up, with customers also reporting difficulty in snagging refunds. When asked to make amends, Nolosha hit the brakes and resisted further inquiries.
Despite a court order to spill the beans, Nolosha dragged its feet and planned to appeal. To dodge a lengthy courtroom battle, the Attorney General took legal steps for swift refunds, speeding up relief for those wronged by the dubious project.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
