LIRA -The Lira district LC5 Chairperson, Richard Cox Okello Orik has turned down a directive by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba to suspend six members of the district land board.
Okello Orik accused Nabakooba of acting outside the law and also was influenced to pen the suspension letter by one of the officials in Lira City.
Two months ago, Nabakooba suspended all Lira district land board members over alleged corruption and influence peddling.
In a letter dated 4th Feb,2022 to the Chief Administrative Officer, Ben Ogwete Otim, the minister fumed over allegations surrounding the team hence questioning their moral standing against public officers serving on the board.
“The purpose of this letter is to suspend the officials of the board to pave way for investigation into the allegation,” she adds. The letter was copied to the inspector general of government [IGG].
Among those ordered to leave office was, the Chairperson of board, Paul Cankoma, Pastor Francis Okello, the acting secretary of the board and four others.
But on 19th Feb,2022 Okello said, as a leader he could not take any action to boot the team from the office since they are innocent and have not committed any offence.
“They have not committed any crime and what I know, the minister wrote the letter without coming on the ground. It was done as a result of influence,” he claims.
Okello’s statement followed public outcry over continuing to hold office despite their suspension.
Okello vowed to defend the team and ensure that the public gain confidence and hope in them.
On the 1st Feb,2022 Pastor Okello was arrested by the police over alleged smuggling of land related documents and a heap of documents were recovered from his car.
Before the incident, former parliamentary candidate for Lira City West division, Anthony Ojuka asked the government to institute an investigation into corruption into the ministry of land zonal office in Lira district.
Ojuka accused Francis Ateng, the head of the zonal office of becoming a land broker, illegally processing land titles and conniving with elements to sell government land.
But Nabakooba instructed the permanent secretary in the ministry to liaise with the Ministry of Land zonal office not to entertain backdating of documents to authenticate fraudulent acts.
https://thecooperator.news/lira-city-secures-land-for-abattoir/
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