Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo has taken over a case in which perennial litigant Male Mabirizi instituted private criminal proceedings against Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo over his conduct during last week’s ‘Supreme Court drama’ involving Justice Esther Kisakye.
Mabirizi filed the case on March 22, accusing CJ Owiny Dollo of exhibiting disrespect to, and engaging in obstruction and disturbance on as Kisakye moved to deliver her dissenting judgement in the Bobi Wine election petition on March 18 and 19.
The city lawyer accuses Owiny Dollo of confiscating Justice Kisakye’s ruling file and ordering the disconnection of electricity and public address system.
Mabirizi sought court orders for a warrant of arrest for the CJ to appear in person and defend himself over alleged misconduct.
Now, DPP Abodo has taken over the case with immediate effect.
“The office Director of Public Prosecutions under Article 120(3) (c) of the 1995 Constitution and section 43(1)(a) of the Magistrates Courts Act cap 16, has decided to take over and continue criminal proceedings instituted by Mr Male H . Mabirizi. K. Kiwanuka against Hon Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo effective immediately,” read a letter issued by Buganda Road Court on March 23.
Buganda Road Court resident chief state attorney Joan Keko ordered Mabirizi to give court the requisite documents.
But Mabirizi has insisted that the Constitutional Court recent judgement that judicial officers must resign their jobs before taking up executive or constitutional assignments means that the office of the DPP is vacant.
