Investigation against ex-Nida boss incomplete, one year on
What you need to know:
- Oddly, a year after his arraignment at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court, investigators have continued to plead for adjournment as they were still investigating the matter.
Dar es Salaam. The affectation that police demonstrated when they arrested and charged in court former director general of the National Identification Authority (Nida) Dickson Maimu with occasioning a Sh 1.6 billion loss to the government made people believe there would be no delays in hearing the case against him.
Oddly, a year after his arraignment at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court, investigators have continued to plead for adjournment as they were still investigating the matter.
Mr Maimu and six other persons first appeared in court in August 17, last year, charged with economic sabotage and embezzling public funds in a case that grabbed headlines and generated huge public debate.
Charged along Mr Maimu are Nida business manager Avelin Momburi and the Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Mr Joseph Makani.
Others are Nida’s Acting Chief Accountant, Mr Benjamin Mwakatumbula; the Director of Aste Insurance Brokers, Astery Ndege; Transport Officer, Mr George Ntalima; Legal Director Sabina Raymond and Xavery Kayombo.
They are facing charges of misuse of power, conspiracy and forgery that altogether caused over Sh 1.1 loss to the government.
When the case came yesterday, Principal State Attorney Vitalis Peter informed the court that investigations into the case were incomplete.
On the other hand, senior prosecutor from the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Leonard Swai alleged that the case file that was with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had already been returned.
Apparently, irked by the delay in investigation, Senior Resident Magistrate Respicious Mwijage urged prosecution to complete investigations “so that the accused are jailed if found guilty or set free if they are found to be innocent.’
He adjourned the case to December 6, 2017 and warned prosecutors: “Next time you should come with something new and not similar stories that investigations have not been completed.”
1,169,352,931 to the government.
