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Uladi Mussa hands himself to ACB

People’s Party (PP) interim leader Uladi Mussa yesterday handed himself to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for questioning after allegedly being implicated in a passport scandal.

Mussa is alleged to have violated his ministerial powers and the Malawi Constitution by granting Malawi citizenship to over 50 foreigners in 2013 when he was minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

Mussa arrives at ACB offices in Lilongwe yesterday

News leaked early last week Mussa, who is that also parliamentarian for Salima South, was wanted by the ACB after it obtained a warrant of summons from the Lilongwe Resident Magistrate’s Court under case number 176/2017.

Last Wednesday, the ACB summoned former chief immigration officer Hudson Mankhwala to appear before court where he was charged with neglect of official duties contrary to Section 121 of the Penal Code and abuse of office contrary to section 25B (I) of the Corrupt Practices Act.

However, Mussa’s summoning by the ACB was anticipated soon after Parliament rose sine die on Thursday afternoon since he was under immunity while the House was in session.

His turning himself in to the ACB yesterday morning was not without drama in that it was anticipated and witnessed by many party sympathisers.

In an interview yesterday afternoon, ACB senior public relations officer Egrita Ndala said Mussa is yet to be charged and interrogated by ACB officials.

“In the morning, we did not take any caution statement from him because we already had someone who was also being interrogated on similar issues. So, when he came, we simply confined him.

“He has not been charged. But the likely charges are abuse of office and negligence of duty,” she stated.

However, Ndala could not say whether Mussa would be given bail as we went to press.

“He is now at Area 3 Police Station where he is being kept awaiting interrogation. When all is done he might or might not be taken to court today. But we will see,” she said.

The Nation noted that upon arrival at police station, Mussa was taken to a holding room.

The place was heavily guarded by police officers. But this did not deter a handful of PP supporters from singing some of their party songs.

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