High court throws out Nandutu’s plea to stop ‘mabaati’ trial
The Anti-Corruption Court has squashed an application by the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Hon. Agnes Nandutu, to stop the trial on the iron sheets scandal.
Nandutu had earlier petitioned the Constitutional Court for interpretation of Section 21A of the Anti-Corruption Act, on grounds that the charges levied on her were broad, vague and unclear. She applied to the Anti corruption Court to halt the trial.
Through her lawyers Caleb Alaka and Ocheing Evans, Nandutu stated that the charges on her contravene Article 28(1) and (12) of the Constitution.
The embattled minister was slapped with charges of dealing with suspect property and causing the loss of public property.
High court throws out Nandutu’s plea to stop ‘mabaati’ trial
However, on Monday morning, Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga trashed the application on grounds that the charges are clear and that filing two applications would only cause a case backlog.
The Judge explained that if Nandutu needed to halt her trial, she should seek a temporary injunction from the Constitutional Court instead.
She later adjourned the matter to June 8, 2023.
Prosecution alleges that in June 2022, at the Office of the Prime Minister’s Stores in Namanve and Kkola Cell Bulwanyi Parish, Mukono District, Nandutu was involved in the handling of government property, specifically 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets Gauge 28.
The prosecution argues that Nandutu had reason to believe these iron sheets were obtained through the loss of public property, an offense under Section 10 of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2000 as Amended.
High court throws out Nandutu’s plea to stop ‘mabaati’ trial
