{UAH} Corruption 101!!!!! The Observer - Mbabazi lawyer wants his billions
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The Observer - Mbabazi lawyer wants his billions
Monday, 18 August 2014 00:58
Billionaire in waiting: Severino Twinobusingye
More than 18 months after Justice Nshimye Ssebuturo okayed the review of Shs 13bn Court award to lawyer Severino Twinobusingye, his court of Appeal is yet to hear the application.
In February 2013, the Registrar of the Constitutional court, Elias Kisawuzi, awarded Shs 13bn to Twinobusingye, after he successfully challenged Parliament's power to force the prime minister, Amama Mbabazi, and two ministers, to "step aside" over bribery allegations. However, on Saturday, Twinobusingye told The Observer that the Court of Appeal was yet to indicate when his matter would be heard.
"Last year, after Justice Nshimye's decision to allow the AG [to] file a reference to review my award, I appealed to the three justices of Appeal challenging the decision. And as of now, the hearing of the matter is yet to materialise," he said.
MPs' powers
The case related to allegations that Mbabazi and his cabinet colleagues, including Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs) and Hilary Onek (Disaster Preparedness and Refugees), had taken bribes from oil companies. MPs demanded that the ministers "step aside" to allow investigations. ButTwinobusingye challenged Parliament's powers to demand this of the ministers, and won the case, along with Shs 13bn.
Following a public outcry, the attorney general made a belated challenge to the Shs 13bn award. Justice Nshimye allowed the AG to appeal "out of time" or after the deadline had passed. But Twinobusingye is appealing the decision on ground that he it is an abuse of the court process.
"They had a chance to appeal my award and they did not utilise it. So they cannot turn around to look for it," Twinobusingye said, adding that normally a formal appeal has to be filed within 14 days after court makes its decision.
"All this was not done," he added.
Compensation interest
Although he is not bothered about the delay, Twinobusingye says he will fight the AG's effort up to the Supreme court. At the end, he says, his reward will come with interest.
"The last time I checked, my compensation was accumulating interest. So, my advice to government is to give me what belongs to me," he said.
When contacted, Kisawuzi, the Judiciary's spokesman, said court was yet to determine a date to hear Twinobusingye's matter. "I am not aware of the set date or the status of the matter," he said, before referring us to the registry.
skakaire@observer.ug
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