Her trial was suspended on Wednesday following a barrage of legal arguments by her lawyers who termed the whole case against Philomena Mwilu unconstitutional/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 – Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu will be back in court on Friday before the Chief Magistrate court who is expected to make a ruling on the orders stopping the proceedings.
Her trial was suspended on Wednesday following a barrage of legal arguments by her lawyers who termed the whole case against Philomena Mwilu unconstitutional.
Mwilu who is one of seven members of the Supreme Court, was arrested after Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, accused her of abusing her office for personal gain.
But she quickly filed a challege at the High Court which granted her orders to stop the proceedings of a magistrate’s court, though it cited the wrong case further complicating the matter which was pushed to Friday to enable the High Court to rectify the clerical error.
A section of lawyers have argued that Mwilu’s arrest and prosecution could lead to a constitutional crisis because the Judicial Service Commission is not properly constituted.
Mwilu is facing five corruption-related charges including improperly obtaining the execution of a Sh12 million security belonging to the collapsed Imperial Bank between August and October 2013.
Magistrate Mugambi freed her on a personal bond of Sh5 million.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji had listed acceptance of money in circumstances that undermine public confidence in the office she holds as among charges she would face.
Mwilu also faces abuse of office, unlawful failure to pay taxes, and conducting herself in disregard of the law.
Haji said the charges stemmed from an investigation that was carried out by the DCI.
DCI officers led by chief detective George Kinoti arrested Mwilu at the Supreme Court buildings Tuesday afternoon before taking her to DCI Headquarters from where she was processed and subsequently taken to Milimani Law Courts to take plea.
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