Look North
Thursday, September 21, 2023
  • Home
  • Grapevine
  • News
    • Local
    • National
    • Regional
  • Business & Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Farming
  • LifeStyle
    • Celebrities
    • Fashion & Style
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
  • Our History
    • Heritage
    • Leadership
    • Military
  • People & Politics
    • Profiles
    • Talk Back
    • Viewpoints
  • Sports
Subscribe
Look North
  • Home
  • Grapevine
  • News
    • Local
    • National
    • Regional
  • Business & Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Farming
  • LifeStyle
    • Celebrities
    • Fashion & Style
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
  • Our History
    • Heritage
    • Leadership
    • Military
  • People & Politics
    • Profiles
    • Talk Back
    • Viewpoints
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Look North
No Result
View All Result

LRA’s Ongwen falls out with lawyer Ayena Odongo at ICC

South Sudan Bureau - REGIONAL TEAMbySouth Sudan Bureau - REGIONAL TEAM
June 24, 2022
in National, News
0
Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) warlord Dominic Ongwen. (IMAGE: Courtesy | theKR Media)

Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) warlord Dominic Ongwen. (IMAGE: Courtesy | theKR Media)

53
SHARES
664
VIEWS
WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegram

THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS. Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) warlord Dominic Ongwen currently serving a 25-year jail term in The Hague, The Netherlands, has fallen out with his lawyer Krispus Ayena Odongo.

This cutting of ties that once closely bonded the two has been attributed to a serious “communication breakdown” between Ongwen and lawyer Ayena. The two had spent nearly seven years together enjoying lawyer-client relationship.

ALSO READPosts

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

May 15, 2023
Mourners struggle to catch a glimpse of the UPDF chopper that had arrived with carried the remains of Col Charles Okello Engola on May 11, 2023. COURTESY PHOTO.

Lango leaders task govt to probe killing of Col Engola

May 15, 2023

Col Engola leaves UPC son to face off with Moto, Omodo Omodo

May 15, 2023

What Acholi communities, clans won and lost in Constitutional Court ruling on land

March 9, 2023

Ongwen was arrested in the jungles of the Central African Republic (CAR) and airlifted to the ICC detention centre in The Hague on January 21, 2015. He was found guilty of committing atrocities in northern Uganda during 20 years of war between the LRA rebels led by Joseph Kony and Uganda government troops.

But the breaking of ties came on June 7 when a panel of five judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), formally allowed Mr Ayena to withdraw as lead counsel for Ongwen, a former LRA rebel brigade commander of Sinia Brigade.

“Mr Krispus Ayena Odongo’s request for leave to withdraw as counsel for Mr Ongwen in the above-mentioned appeal is granted. The Registry is directed to take all necessary steps to facilitate the prompt appointment,” ruled lead judge Liz Del Carmen Ibanez Carranza, on June 7.

Ongwen has since hired another defence lawyer of Cameroonian origin, Mr Charles Achalette Taku.

Mr Taku in his application to court to allow him represent Ongwen, cited breakdown of communication as the main reason that forced Ongwen to part ways with Mr Ayena, his long-time defense lawyer.

But Mr Taku did not cite any specific aspects of the breakdown in communication between the duo. He only said Ongwen had told him about a serious communication breakdown.

However, sources privy to the rift between Ongwen and his lawyer Ayena, claimed the former was forced to hire counsel Ayena because he was the only lawyer he had closely known.

Ayena had previously served as legal counsel to Kony and his team during the Juba peace talks with the government of Uganda in 2006. So when Ongwen was arrested in the jungles of the Central African Republic, Ayena became his automatic choice since Ongwen only spoke Acholi, which Ayena also spoke.

The sources say Ongwen has over the years in prison learnt some English and is able to hold conversation with another defense lawyer.

But Mr Ayena dismissed the allegations of a fallout and branded them as false and insisted that his withdrawal was voluntary. “Absolutely not true. Consider that the case is done. It only awaits judgment on appeal,” Mr Ayena said on Wednesday morning via a WhatsApp message.

“I felt I had done my part. I was already losing valuable clients due to [my] long absence. I, therefore, voluntarily withdrew my services since we are just waiting for the appeal judgment so that I can concentrate on my cases and retain my clientele,” he added.

Court documents at the ICC show that on June 1, Mr Ayena formally moved court under Regulation 78(1) to withdraw as counsel for Ongwen in his appeal proceedings.

The court documents also show that on the same date, Mr Taku filed a notification before the Appeals Chamber, indicating that Ongwen had agreed to appoint him as his new lead defense counsel to replace Mr Ayena for the remaining phase of appeal proceedings.

“Mr Taku stated that communication between Mr Ayena and Ongwen ‘has completely broken down’. Mr Taku further submits that the composition of the legal team representing Ongwen will not change and that given the team’s familiarity with the case, the change of counsel will not disrupt or occasion any delays in the present proceedings.” reads part of the court documents.

Look North Online has learnt that Mr Taku has already met Ongwen to come up with a new programme of navigating the remaining appeal proceedings.

Background

On February 4, 2021, the Trial Chamber found Ongwen guilty of 61 crimes listed as war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Uganda between July 1, 2002, and December 2005.

The attacks against civilians, which left more than 100,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands more injured, included crimes committed against them like, murder, attempted murder, torture, enslavement, and sexual crimes committed against women in internally displaced people’s camps (IDPs) in Pajule, Odek, Lukodi and Abok, all in northern Uganda.

But Ongwen has since appealed against it, stating that he is dissatisfied with the Trial Chamber’s decision.

The appeal is now pending with the verdict expected out in December this year.

Tags: ICClawyer Ayena OdongoLRA’s Ongwentoptopnews

Related Posts

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola
Local

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

byOur Reporter - DIGITGAL HUB
May 15, 2023
Mourners struggle to catch a glimpse of the UPDF chopper that had arrived with carried the remains of Col Charles Okello Engola on May 11, 2023. COURTESY PHOTO.
Local

Lango leaders task govt to probe killing of Col Engola

byOur Reporter - DIGITGAL HUB
May 15, 2023
Col Engola leaves UPC son to face off with Moto, Omodo Omodo
Local

Col Engola leaves UPC son to face off with Moto, Omodo Omodo

byOur Reporter - DIGITGAL HUB
May 15, 2023
The team of petitioners and interested parties during a hearing session
National

What Acholi communities, clans won and lost in Constitutional Court ruling on land

byOur Reporter - DIGITGAL HUB
March 9, 2023
Some of the assorted items donated to Okere City community by LWA
LifeStyle

How a city came to Okere village in Lango

byKAY CAROL ACHAK
January 16, 2023
Gen Salim Saleh
National

Why ‘Gen Saleh’ letter is free intelligence  for Lukwago in race for 2026

byCHRISTOPHER OKIDI
January 16, 2023

Recent News

DP President Norbert Mao (in black suit), walks to the podium at his homecoming in Gulu City, escorted by (L-R): Ms Lydia Wanyoto of NRM Women's League, NRM deputy supremo Al-hajj Moses Kigongo, and President Museveni's brother, Gen Salim Saleh.

Making sense of Mao’s new deal, political bypass and joyride with Gen Museveni 

September 9, 2023
Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

May 15, 2023

Categories

  • Business & Finance
  • Celebrities
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Farming
  • Health & Fitness
  • Heritage
  • Leadership
  • LifeStyle
  • Local
  • Military
  • National
  • News
  • Our History
  • People & Politics
  • Profiles
  • Regional
  • Sports
  • Talk Back
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Viewpoints

Site Navigation

  • Home
  • Advertisement
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Other Links
Look North

Look North is a dynamic, engaging, and informative online news platform for Acholi sub-region, wider northern Uganda, South Sudan, and their diaspora communities. We cover current affairs, people and politics, lifestyle, business and finance, our history, sports, health and fitness, both at local, national, regional and international levels.

© 2023 LookNorth

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Grapevine
  • News
    • Local
    • National
    • Regional
  • Business & Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Farming
  • LifeStyle
    • Celebrities
    • Fashion & Style
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
  • Our History
    • Heritage
    • Leadership
    • Military
  • People & Politics
    • Profiles
    • Talk Back
    • Viewpoints
  • Sports

© 2023 LookNorth