Court Drops Assault Case Against Former MP Odonga Otto

Gulu Grade One Magistrate, Christine Turibamwe has dropped the assault case against former Aruu County Member of Parliament Samuel Odonga Otto.

On March 30th, 2021, Geoffrey Okot, a journalist with Choice FM in Gulu dragged the Odonga to court on charges of assault and causing him bodily harm contrary to Section 236 of the Penal Code Act.

According to the prosecution, Otto allegedly committed the offence on June 16th, 2019 at Pece Stadium in Gulu City during the FUFA Drum encounter between Acholi and West Nile Provinces. Otto pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the beginning of this month, while appearing in court Otto asked the court to permit him to settle the matter with the complainant outside court other than going to full trial. Okot agreed to the proposal for an out of court settlement but asked for time to consult his lawyers, which was granted by court.

Appearing in court on Thursday, Okot asked the court to drop the case. He explained that he had agreed with Odonga to settle the matter out of court. He also said that he and Odonga had reconciled.

Turibamwe then closed the case but asked Okot to write an additional statement indicating that he has lost interest in the case and that the additional statement shall be acknowledged by the prosecution.

Odonga however declined to comment on the matter.

According to Section 236 of the Penal Code Act, any person who commits an assault occasioning actual bodily harm commits a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for five years.

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