By Metedio Iceta
ADJUMANI- Chief Magistrate Moyo, Innocent Omara while presiding over a Court session in Adjumani on last Friday has now set the Paramount Chief of Madi Stephen Drani free from 10 counts of criminal charges leveled against him.
“Reading the charges to the accused Chief Drani in attended court session state Prosecution alleged that on 10th April,2023, Chief Drani and others on Ngoro west village,Aliwara parish in Itirikwa Sub County, Adjumani district has attempted to cause the death of one called Juliet Anzoa on counts, on the other counts prosecution further alleges the same accused person and others attempted to cause the death of six other persons and on the second charges of assault,the prosecution alleged that on the 10th April,2023 Chief Drani and other unlawfully assaulted three persons and causing bodily harm one count ,two and three respectively”, the brief facts partly reads.
Chief Innocent Omara after analyzing the files and stated that the Directorate of Public Prosecution has dropped all charges leaved against the accused
Background
Chief Stephen Drani was arrested on Easter Sunday violence on Apaa land saga where it was alleged that the Chief incited a group of people who mobilized and tortured the locals in the area and burnt houses.
The Madi paramount Chief was summoned to Adjumani District Central Police station Easter on Monday to record a statement and later released on police bond after presenting competent sureties and after taken to Openzinzi thereafter he was brought to Court and granted bail until today 23rd June,2023 where he was set free from all charges.
Mr John Anyanzo, a lawyer with Legal Aid Clinic said the Chief has been charged with several counts of offences but this is what justice has been done. “The law says anybody charged with a criminal offence is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. Before the prove can even come the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) realized the charges leaved against the paramount Chief could not stand and when you read article 120 of the Constitution of Uganda 1995 DPP has power to withdraw charges of criminal offence against any accused person if it is to effect that the case may not be prove”
“What has happened today on 23rd June, 2023 is the excitedly that provision of the law the case against the Chief could not stand and that is where the office of DPP had withdrawn those charges meaning the chief Drani is now free those allegations and we are happy for those justice been done because body can make allegations against of criminal nature but where the charges are withdrawn then you are set free and this what has happened to him in this court sitting in Adjumani district”, Mr Anyanzo said.
Mr Anyanzo has highly suspected the people who made these falsefull allegations against the Paramount Chief had their own intention against him.
“I suspect the people behind these complaints and allegations have their hide issue with the Chief but not a substantive matter which could stand. My apple to everybody I that we should not allege things for the sake of alleging anything against somebody which may not stand because in future if you alleged something against someone is cannot be proved this person can against other sue against a person who are making such allegation because the law does not relied on rumors”, Mr Anyanzo noted.
Mr Jimmy Vukoni Idia, the Prime Minister of Palenyua clan, told daily monitor that the truth of matter has been found out on him. “We thank God for the people who have lied against our Chief, who should be the one to punish them, not the clan people of Palenyua. Our Chief was proved not guilty of any offences alleged against him and we appreciate the people who stood with us during the suffering of our leader in the Openzinzi Prison cell”, Mr Vukoni said.
Ms Sophie Walea, the lead legal officer for the Paramount Chief told this newspaper that what even happened needs to be forgotten.
“The most important thing for me is that my client has been released and charges have been dropped against him. There is no one who is above the law as being the paramount Chief of Madi he was arrested; charged and remanded to Openzinzi government prison and later he was also granted court belly and we had to continue coming to court until the final date when the court had pronounced its position over the matter” ,Ms Walea said.
Mr Stephen Drani, the Paramount Chief of Ma’di has described the court decision as a great achievement of justice seen done which shows the bounds where Uganda has come far for the justice to be done in such with greatness. I want to appreciate the people of Madi and Acholi for embracing to coexist together and we must continue with the spirit of the way we are leaving such that we develop our country. Africa is ours because if we don’t make the change that is necessary for our people to leave together then our country can be torn apart and so leaving together peacefully is a Must that should make us to get beyond this tribal segment fights”
“We really need together to build Africa to create this continent and the country (Uganda) we want such that we ensure to develop. Now I’m free from the criminal charges leaved against we can continue in pour pathways of development because those false allegation but this also comes with territory and most important is to get out of court such that it gives us the opportunity to go with development of our area in peace means”
Mr Drani said: “Peace must come and prevail in the Westnile region and Madi sub region at large. Must have peace in order to allow the fertile ground to organize our communities and People. It is now behind us tomorrow is a new day and we must take the challenges as they come on our pathway not to be driven by the past issues of yesterday”,Mr Drani said.