Governor Tong Akeen lifts immunity of state anti-corruption chief, drags him to court over ‘defamation’

JUBA – The governor of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Tong Akeen Ngor has lifted the immunity of his government’s anti-corruption commission boss Anei Rok Akuei and dragged him to court for allegedly defaming him in a public statement over illegal use of state resources.

In a statement on August 25, Mr. Akuei said vehicles belonging to the state government are being given to people not working in the government, leaving state officials walking to their duty stations on foot every morning.

“……… cars belonging to the government are being given out randomly to people who are not in the government leaving state officials walking on feet which shown that the system is corrupted and indicated that the state government given out the cars without approval or procedures from the council of ministers and all constitutional post holders they are not well paid,” he said.

Akuei who is also a member of the SPLM-IO state leadership in Northern Bahr el Ghazal said the state government is receiving at least SSP260 million on monthly basis from the central government, but the government in the state is not able to pay civil servants or carry out its duties.

In a letter addressed to Akuei, the Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state said he has lifted the anti-corruption chief’s immunity as he is wanted to attend to public prosecutor on the defamation case opened by the governor.

“In reference to the letter dated on 9th September 2022 with No. RSS/MoJ &CA/LA &PPA/A…..2022 from Aweil Town Public Prosecution Attorney office, I am here by writing to formally lift your immunity as constitutional post-holder with effect from the date of writing this letter for a needed probe at police office in Aweil Town Police Station to clear the alleged accusations against you,” Governor Tong said in the letter.

“You are requested under the case opened against you under case No. (2367) /2022, under section (289) of South Sudan Penal Code Act 2008, and the Director of Legal Administration and Public Prosecution had directed you to meet the prosecutor for you to answer some questions,” he added.

AKUEI ON THE RUN

Speaking to Sudans Post separately, a senior state SPLM-IO official said Akuei is currently hiding and that security forces in the state capital Aweil are searching for him as per orders of the governor who he said is the complainant in the case.

“The governor opened a court case against Hon. Chairperson of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Chairperson Anei Akuei and now despite being the complainant in the case, he has lifted the immunity of Hon. Anei and the security are now looking for him,” the official who requested to be named for fear of reprisal said from Aweil.

“We don’t think that Honorable Akuei has done a crime because he was saying the right thing and the government here in the state is very corrupt to the extend that ordinary people who are not government officials are using cars which are supposed to be used by the state government official, now is this not a corruption? If someone said that, would you said that you are being defamed?” the official asked.