The flag bearer for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Amuru woman parliamentary race, Jane Francesca Okili faces arrest over a 73 million legal bill, Acholi Times understands.
The bill stems from a law suit Okili lost against incumbent Amuru woman member of parliament, Lucy Akello.
Ms Okili owes Ms Akello the Shs 73 million in compensation that accrued after she lost an election petition challenging Ms Akello’s triumph in a by election in November last year.
Akello won the race to replace former Amuru woman member of parliament Betty Bigombe who resigned her seat and ministerial position to take up a job with the World Bank in Washington DC.
In the petition which she lost, Okili was represented by top Kampala law firm, Kampala Associated Advocates. Okili accused Akello of conniving with the Electoral Commission, using propaganda and tribalistic sentiments against her. Okili is originally from Teso but is married in Amuru.
Her petition was thrown out with cos in late June due to lack of evidence by Justice Margret Mutonyi, the Gulu Resident High Court judge.
Five months after the ruling, Okilli has reportedly been dodging paying the legal cost prompting Akello to seek the services of court bailiffs who are now threatening to arrest Okili.
Speaking to Acholi times on Wednesday, Apollo Olema of Vimba Associates Court Bailif said for the past five months Okili has been dodging paying the legal costs.
Olema said last week, Okili pleaded that they give her one week to pay the money but after the days elapsed, she failed to meet her promises.
“At the moment we have no other alternative, all the days she has promised to pay the money has passed, we tried to convene a meeting so that we hear from her but she failed to turn up nor even answer our phone calls,” said Olema.
Olema said they secured an arrest warrant for Okili from the Gulu High court last month.
When contacted, Okili denied she was wanted by court bailiffs. When pressed further on whether she had paid her bills, Okili referred our reporter to her lawyer Andrew Mauso of Kampala Associated Advocates.
Lucy Akello of the Forum for Democratic Change won the Amuru seat as the joint Opposition candidate in last year’s by election, polling 7,420 votes while Jane Frances Okili, who contested on the NRM ticket, garnered 6,701 votes.
Okili and Akello will face off again in 2016 general election for Amuru woman Parliamentary seat.
