Judge challenges composition of adjudicators in his case

CHOMBA MUSIKA
Lusaka
DISMISSED High Court Judge Wilfred Muma has challenged the composition of adjudicators to hear a case he is accused of wilful failure to follow
procedure, arguing that the court had no power to try him.
When the case was called yesterday before Economic and Financial Crimes Court (EFCC) High Court division, Mr Muma, through his lawyers, raised preliminaries issues.
The 58-year-old accused is facing two counts of abuse of authority of office and wilful failure to comply with law and applicable procedure.
The alleged failure to follow the law and procedure relates to allocation and disposal of public property.
Between April 1 and December 31, 2018, Mr Muma, being commissioner of lands then, allegedly failed to comply with the law, namely section 84(1) of the Lands and Deeds Registry Act Chapter 185.
This was after the former adjudicator allegedly instructed his subordinates to cancel certificate title number 21818, relating to public property number Lusak/LN, without following the law and applicable procedure.
Allegations in the second count are that between the same dates, the accused, being a public officer, then as commissioner of lands, abused his office by requesting the army commander to surrender a certificate of title in respect of property number Lusak/LN-8426/1… https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/