Aruu County Member of Parliament Odonga Otto has been charged with four counts of threatening violence, inciting violence, obstructing electoral officers and destruction of electoral materials before Kitgum Grade one magistrate court presided over by Magistrate Isaac Rukundo.
Mr Otto was charged along with Ms Lucy Achiro the Aruu North MP elect in Pader District, and her ‘supporters’ Ms Christine Achiro, Bosco Okema, James Okot, Irene Ajok and Bosco Olanya.
The Magistrate noted that the criminal charges slapped against the two legislators were contrary to the parliamentary elections act.
The charges follows an incident on February 29 in which Mr Otto and Ms Achiro were alleged to have led a mob that stormed Pader central police station and destroyed four ballot boxes containing Aruu North Constituency election results.
Kitgum Chief Magistrate Mr Japyem Okongo had earlier in February ordered for vote recount after Mr Nabinson Kidega, an NRM contestant who lost the election petitioned court seeking nullification of results citing malpractice and oversight in vote counting.
Ms Achiro who contested on an independent ticket garnered 8,599 votes while Mr Kidega garnered 8,597 votes losing by only two votes.
Both Mr Otto and Ms Achiro pleaded not guilty to the charges and were later granted cash bail of Shs1 million each while their sureties were each bonded Shs3 million.
The duo was represented by Conrad Oroya of Legal aid project and Geoffrey Anyru of Odonga otto & Co Advocates.
Magistrate Rukundo adjourned the case to May 25, this year when they will return to court for mention of their case.
editoirial@ug.nationmedia.com
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