IGG, DPP To Prosecute EC Officials
Feb 06, 2003
THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) have been granted a go-ahead to jointly prosecute six Electoral Commission (EC) officials facing fraud charges.
By Solomon Muyita and Maurice Okore
THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) have been granted a go-ahead to jointly prosecute six Electoral Commission (EC) officials facing fraud charges.
The Principle Judge, Herbert Ntabgoba, yesterday quashed a lower court’s ruling barring the organs from co-prosecuting the case in which the officials are accused of causing financial loss of over sh300m.
Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Frank Othembi in September 2002 stopped attempts by the deputy DPP, Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, to join the IGG prosecution team in the case, saying it was unconstitutional.
But Ntabgoba said, “I find no legal justification in disqualifying Byabakama from appearing in any capacity on behalf of the IGG. The IGG has a right to engage, in any manner any expert to enhance the conduct of prosecution.â€
Ntabgoba said if the DPP, who had overall authority on prosecutions agreed to work with the IGG for better results, there would be no injustice occasioned on the accused. Ends
THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) have been granted a go-ahead to jointly prosecute six Electoral Commission (EC) officials facing fraud charges.
The Principle Judge, Herbert Ntabgoba, yesterday quashed a lower court’s ruling barring the organs from co-prosecuting the case in which the officials are accused of causing financial loss of over sh300m.
Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Frank Othembi in September 2002 stopped attempts by the deputy DPP, Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, to join the IGG prosecution team in the case, saying it was unconstitutional.
But Ntabgoba said, “I find no legal justification in disqualifying Byabakama from appearing in any capacity on behalf of the IGG. The IGG has a right to engage, in any manner any expert to enhance the conduct of prosecution.â€
Ntabgoba said if the DPP, who had overall authority on prosecutions agreed to work with the IGG for better results, there would be no injustice occasioned on the accused. Ends