Court lifts warrant of arrest against Babu Owino

Nairobi Magistrates court has lifted a warrant of arrest order against Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino.

Magistrate Martha Mutuku who issued the warrant heard that Owino failed to appear in court because he was in at Kibera law courts attending another matter.

In the case,Owino and his bodyguard Fanuel Owino were charged with assault, causing bodily harm and using abusive language last week.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi last week, the two pleaded not guilty and were freed on a personal bond of Sh 20,000 each.

It is alleged that the two assaulted one David Gichagu Wagana, a parking attendant at Fortis Towers compound in Westlands area in Nairobi on January 11, 2018.

They are said to have committed the offence at a parking lot at Fortis Towers compound in Westlands, Nairobi, on January 11, this year.

Through lawyer Harun Ndubi and James Orengo, Owino pleaded with the court to release him on free bond on grounds that the offence was petty.

He also denied assaulting Gichagu on similar dates and place. He told the court he was being targeted due to political interests.

“My client was arrested and put in custody for two days, which is illegal and a violation of his rights,” said Ndubi.

At the same time, the magistrate directed the Divisional Criminal Investigation Officer Parklands to explain to the court why Owino had been in police custody for two days.

Chief Inspector Isaac Tenai told the court Owino was arrested on January 19 at around 4pm and they could not access a law court to arraign him.

He added that even after the arrest Owino continued to issue threats on social media to the complainant. Owino was warned not to repeat the same offense again. The case will be mentioned on the 19th February 2018.?