EACJ Grants Stay of Proceedings in Terror Case

By East African Community (EAC)

ARUSHA, Tanzania, February 29, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The First Instance Division of the EACJ Tuesday granted a stay of proceedings in a case challenging the arrest and handing over of Kenyan citizens by the Government of Kenya to that of Uganda on suspicion of involvement in terror activities.

The First Instance Division ordered that the hearing of the case is halted until an Appeal filed by the Government of Uganda in the Appellate Division has been determined.

The stay of proceedings followed an application lodged by the Attorney General of Uganda and backed by Mr. Stephen Agaba, representing the Counsel to the Community (EAC).

The Attorneys General of Uganda and Kenya and the EAC Secretary General are the Respondents in the case, filed by Omar Awadh and 6 Others who sought the EACJ's intervention after Kenyan citizens alleged to have played a part in the planning and execution of the bomb attacks in Kampala in July 2010 were transferred to Uganda without recourse to established extradition procedures and due process of law as stipulated by the Kenyan Constitution