By John Ogulei and Stephen Enatu
SOROTI
The Soroti High Court has adjourned the hearing of a petition filed by Soroti Municipality MP, Herbert Edmund Ariko over Soroti City Boundaries.
Court in November 26th, 2020 ruled that the decision to have both Arapai Town Council and parts of Amen Town Council from Soroti West taken to Soroti City East was erroneous.
The five applicants; Enyau Michael, Onanyang Robert, Erienju Stephen, Ejelu Patrick and Omoding Brian in there a case that was filed against the Electoral Commission on 18th September 2020 had urged that, the decision to curb Arapai Town Council and parts of Amen Town Council to Soroti City East wasn’t fair and most of them were not consulted.
The complainants further alleged that the above places were erroneously curbed by the Ministry of Local government to serve the interests of individual politicians.
Subsequently, the sitting Soroti High Court Judge, His Lordship Justice Wilson Musalu Musene on 26th November granted their plea and reverted the places of Aloet, Teso College, Arapai, Opiyai and Orwadai to the West.
But MP Ariko and his legal team disagreed with the decision of the high court saying it was unfair and unjust.
In his appeal Ariko wants the court to review the grounds under which the said Wards were taken to Soroti City west.
Ariko also wants the court to nullify the elections of Soroti City and award him costs.
But during day one (today 24th February 2021) of the hearing, lawyers representing the five respondents led by Ivan Omoloi of M/s Okello Oryem Advocates and Phiona Mirembe of M/s Mirembe Advocates asked court to grant them leave in order for them to file their affidavits in reply.
Omoloi urged that he was served on short notice yesterday (Tuesday) at 3:00PM, a day to the hearing of the case.
A decision was reached by the Soroti high Court Judge, Justice Wilson Musalu Musene to adjourn the hearing of the case to 2nd March 2021.
In his decision, Justice Musalu said the respondents needed to file their affidavits in reply in order to allow the court proceed with the matter.
Ariko lost to Moses Attan Okia in the recently concluded January 14th polls where he managed to poll 7,167 votes against Attan’s 7,606 votes.
