Lawmaker drags South Sudan to East African court over suspension from parliament

JUBA, JULY 4, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan opposition member of national parliament Juol Nhomngek Daniel has taken the country to the East African Court of Justice over his suspension from parliament last April.

Nhomngek had accused the speaker of parliament Jemma Nunu Kumba of corruption and abuse of office for allegedly swindling away SSP12 million.

A meeting of Assembly Business Committee (ABC) held on April 14 urged Nhomngek to withdraw his words and apologize to the speaker.

The lawmaker refused to apologize, insisting that the speaker had indeed embezzled at least 12 million South Sudanese Pounds. This forced the ABC to indefinitely suspend the lawmaker, sparking outrage from the SPLM-IO parliamentary caucus.

In a letter dated June 26 and obtained by Sudans Post, the East African Court of Justice urged the government of South Sudan to file a response to the case brought forward by Nhomngek within a period not more than 45 days from that date.

“You are hereby notified that the above-named applicant has instituted a reference against you, a copy of which is annexed hereto,” the EACJ said.

“You are hereby required to file a response or written statement of defence within 45 from the date of service hereof. In default of which the reference will be heard and determined in your absence,” it added.

Honorable Nhomngek represents Cueibet County of the country’s Lakes State on the ticket of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar.