Human Rights defender Nicholas Opio has this afternoon appeared before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates’ Court for mention of his case.
The human rights lawyer was grabbed by plain-clothed policemen in Kamwokya while having lunch with his friends, He was whisked off to an unknown destination, after which police confirmed he was being held at the
Nicholas Opiyo has been charged with the offenses of Money laundering and neglect to submit annual returns to the NGO Bureau. Court heard that on October 8th, 2020, ABSA Bank at Garden City acquired USD 340,000 through an account number 6004078045 in the names of Chapter Four Uganda, knowing that the funds were proceeds of crime.
Opiyo is also the Chapter Four Executive Director and was arrested alongside three colleagues in Kamwokya on Tuesday.
The fate of the other four suspects, who included lawyers Herbert Dakasi, Esomu Obure, Anthony Odur, and Human Rights officer, Hamid Tenywa however, remained unknown by press time.
On Wednesday (December 23, 2020) Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, noted that they had deepened their investigations into money laundering charges preferred against him.
Enanga did not disclose what they had recovered from the search they had conducted at Opiyo’s office and home but noted that their forensic teams were analyzing exhibits.
He has been remanded to jail until December 28 2020 when his case comes up for mention again meanwhile his file has been forwarded to the Anti-corruption Court.
