High Court reinstates charges against Education officer charged with bribing IEBC coordinator in 2017

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Milimani Law Courts

Anti-corruption High Court has reinstated charges against a Senior Education officer charged with bribing an IEBC coordinator to influence appointment of presiding officers in the 2017 General Elections.

Salesa Adano Abudo had been acquitted by Isiolo Law Courts Chief Magistrate S. M. Mungai over unnecessary delay of the trial by the prosecution.

Justice Joseph Onyiego allowed the application by the DPP and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to review or set aside the trial court’s decision ordering termination of the charges on 12th February 2018.

“The charges are hereby reinstated and the case to proceed from where it had reached before any other Magistrate with jurisdiction other than CM S.M Mungai within Isiolo Law courts or any other nearer court in the event there is no Magistrate with jurisdiction within Isiolo law courts,” Judge Onyiego ordered.

In his judgment, the judge said the orders sought were merited and he was persuaded by the DPP and EACC’s arguments.

Abudo was charged before Isiolo Chief Magistrate Court with promising to give Justus Nzomo, the IEBC coordinator for Saku constituency in Marsabit county sh 200,000 as an inducement so as to appoint some persons he preferred as presiding officers during the elections while knowing the acceptance of the promise would constitute improper performance of his duties.

He is alleged to have committed the offense on 8th July 2017.

He is also charged with giving theIEBC coordinator Sh 200,000 as an inducement so as to appoint people he preferred on 11th July 2017 at about 2:00pm at Galaxy Hotel in Isiolo town.

He was released on a personal bond of Sh 300,000 or a cash bail of 20,000 pending hearing and determination of the corruption case.

Abudo had been acquitted over alleged failure by the prosecution to supply him with witness statement and exhibits.

The magistrate noted that the prosecution keep seeking adjournment claiming they were waiting for directions from DPP Noordin Haji.

Judge Onyiego ordered the hearing of the case to be expedited without further delay and Abudo to be summoned to appear in court for further directions.