Godi appeal: final court's verdict for future date

Dec 01, 2014

Former Arua Municipality MP and FDC party member Akbar Hussein Godi ,convicted of murder , has to wait a little longer for a final verdict after the Supreme Court said that it will give its judgment on a date to be announced in future.

By Hillary Nsambu                                

Former Arua Municipality MP and FDC party member Akbar Hussein Godi ,convicted of murder , has to wait a little longer for a final verdict after the Supreme Court said that it will give its judgment on a date to be announced in future.


 In 2008 Justice Lawrence Gidudu of the High Court sitting at Mukono convicted Godi of the murder of his wife Rehema Caesar Nasur, who was aged only 19 years and sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment.

However, Godi was dissatisfied complaining that the trial court had failed to properly evaluate the evidence before him. However, when he appealed to the Court of Appeal, the court of three justices dismissed his appeal and upheld the conviction and the sentence of 25 years imprisonment, hence this appeal to the Supreme Court.

When the appeal came up for hearing, the five justices’ panel concurred that as the lawyers for the parties had filed in written submission, they would just wait for the final court’s verdict on a date to be announced in future.

Justices Bart Katureebe, Jotham Tumwesigye, John Wilson Tsekooko, Galdino Magellan Okello and Christine Kitumba presided over the brief court session yesterday.

Godi was represented by Susan Sylvia Wakabala and Senior State Attorney Abdu Mulindwa, represented the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Michael Wamasebu, who handled the case for the state on appeal in the Supreme Court.

It is on record that the deceased Rehema, who was at the time aged 19 years, was the wife of Godi who was at the time aged 21. While Godi was a fresh law graduate, Rehema was still pursuing her S 6 studies at Kakungulu Memorial School, Kibuli. They had been marriage in 2007.

The couple soon developed discord with Godi accusing his partner of having extra marital affairs with other men as she was returning home late. Rehema reported serious mistreatment including threatening her life with shooting by Godi. She reported to her relatives and the state authority and was forced to abandon her marital home and started living with her relatives at Martin Road, Old Kampala.

It is further on court record that on December 4, 2008 Rehema received a call from Godi suggesting for a dinner that evening. Rehema informed her relatives and left to meet God, only to be found shot with a gun at Lukojjo village in Mukono District the same night.

Godi is seeking to quash the conviction and the sentence to be set aside and finally be acquitted.   

 

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