Days after it emerged that the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kole district local government Wamburu Soita Emmanuel had directed civil servants to contribute money for the bail of CDO of Aboke Town Council Aciro Lucy Ejura, tndNews has spoken to the legal expert.
The publication reached out to Counsel Odongo Daniel to understand the legality of the CAO if it aligns well with Ejura’s charges.
Counsel, does the directive by CAO have a legal foundation?
If it was a “directive” from the CAO, then it’s very unfortunate. His “directive” has NO legal backup. And NO employee of Kole District Local Government is under any mandate to “contribute” for anyone’s bail money/fee.
Instead, it is a very unfortunate move by the CAO as it portrays him as one (Accounting Officer) who is condoning the unbecoming conduct of his employees.
Ordinarily, he is the one to report and ensure that culprits of that nature are legally punished. He is supposed to report all such incidents to the District Service Commission for reprimand. What is he trying to tell the people of Kole/taxpayers of Kole?
Also read: Kole CAO aborts interview: resistance emerges on cash directive for his CDO bail
Whereas employees need to stand by each other during sorrow: in death or illness, it is NOT very morally upright to support scandalous workers, like in this case.
I condemn and never tolerate corrupt tendencies. It has been my position and I won’t change anything soon.
Isn’t CAO an accomplice in the crimes CDO was arrested and remanded for?
To a larger extent. If I were the investigating officer in that case, I would very much be interested in the conduct of that CAO and summon him for proper and thorough investigations.
See, in corruption-related incidents, most people (the corrupt) are inter-connected, they don’t embezzle alone, and they are always in cohort.
Take these examples: • The funds come from the central government to the accounting officer of the District (CAO) for a particular activity in the sub-county.
• The next accounting officer is the Jago of that sub-county, and then to the implementing officers. That chain is most likely to be one big cartel.