Controversial city lawyer Male Mabirizi has declared his intention to defy police summons, refusing to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in relation to his high-profile bigamy case against Busoga king, William Nadiope. Mabirizi contends that the takeover of his case by the Jinja resident state attorney was premature and unconstitutional, asserting his determination to challenge this move.
"I will not attend because the takeover of my criminal case by Jinja resident state attorney was premature and unconstitutional, which will be set aside," stated Mabirizi confidently.
The lawyer, known for his confrontational legal tactics, initiated private prosecutions on November 20 last year against Kyabazinga Nadiope, his wife Jovia Mutesi, and witnesses of the controversial wedding that took place on November 18, 2023.
Mabirizi alleges that on the said date, at Christ Cathedral Bugembe, a venue he now deems the "scene of crime," Nadiope, Mutesi, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, and Buganda kingdom queen Sylvia Nagginda participated in, officiated, and witnessed a marriage ceremony despite being fully aware of its invalidity, criminal nature, and void status.
The lawyer argues that Nadiope had previously entered into marriage with Alison Anna before the registrar of marriages in England in December 2016 at Mildam House Bunbaby Road, Portsmouth in the UK. In response, Mabirizi filed charges ranging from fictitious marriage, bigamy, marriage with a person previously married, unlawfully performing a marriage ceremony, to conspiracy to commit felonies against Kazimba and Nagginda.
He sought criminal summons to be issued against the accused, urging their appearance in court to face the charges, be convicted, and serve their respective sentences. However, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) has since taken over the criminal proceedings of the case.
In the latest development, Mabirizi received a summon dated February 13, 2014, requiring him to report to Kira Central Division - Jinja Central Police Station at the office of the Divisional CID on Tuesday the 13th of February 2014 at 1100 hours. The summon is addressed to Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police Evelyn Anyango.
The summon states, "The DPP, to whom the police is the investigative body, has reason to believe that you have valuable information/exhibits/documents to assist police investigations in a case of fictitious marriage, bigamy, and other charges."
Mabirizi's refusal to comply with the police summons sets the stage for a potential legal showdown, adding another layer of complexity to an already contentious legal battle surrounding the Busoga king's marriage. The controversial lawyer seems resolute in his quest for justice, leaving observers curious about the unfolding events and the potential repercussions of his non-compliance.
