Court lifts arrest warrant against Governor Doyo, two others

Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo speaking to journalists at a past event. FILE PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI |

What you need to know:

  • Mr Doyo, Deputy Speaker David Lemantile and Budget and Appropriation Committee Chairman Abdi Sora Balla did not appear for the hearing of the case on Tuesday.

A Meru court has lifted a warrant of arrest issued against Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo and two others on Tuesday.

The magistrate court had ordered the arrest of the county boss and two of his three co-accused for skipping court to face economic crimes and abuse of office charges.

Mr Doyo, Deputy Speaker David Lemantile and Budget and Appropriation Committee Chairman Abdi Sora Balla did not appear for the hearing of the case on Tuesday.

Lawyer Munene Kirima who appeared for all the accused persons told the court there was a staying order from a Nairobi High Court staying the proceedings against the lower court.

REVIEW

The court ordered the warrant of arrest lifted and excused the accused persons from attending the court pending the determination of judicial review in the high court.

β€œIn light of the high court order warrant of arrest is lifted. In the meantime, all the accused are excused from attending court pending the determination in the high court,’’ ruled Chief Magistrate Lucy Ambasi.

Mr Doyo is out on a Sh4 million bond with a surety of a similar amount with an alternative of cash bail of Sh1 million.

He denied the charges when he appeared before Meru Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochieng on December 17 last year.

ABUSE OF OFFICE

He and the three others were charged with conspiracy to commit an economic crime.

The court heard that on December 11, 2014 they jointly, through corrupt and fraudulent practice, approved a false and misleading Sh3.3 billion Supplementary Appropriation Bill.

In the second count, they were accused of failing to comply with law and procedure in relation to incurring of expenditure.

They were also charged with abuse of office.

The charges stated that being public officers, they used their offices to improperly confer a benefit to the county government.