There was drama in Lodwar Town, Turkana County when a mob rescued a suspect who had been arrested over corruption related charges.
The suspect was however re-arrested and taken to court.
Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) had arrested Benson Logiel Lokwang, a former member of the County Executive Committee of Turkana ahead of his arraignment for allegedly forging diploma and degree certificates when the drama broke out.
According to the commission, he was taken into custody at his Lodwar Town home, but as detectives were escorting him to the Lodwar Police Station, they came across a raucous mob who forcibly freed him.
His freedom was however, short lived as the detectives re-arrested him and carted him off to Lodwar Central Police Station.
Here, more officers were mobilized and kept the mob out of the structure.
According to the EACC, a mob broke into the police station where he was being held and yelled for his release.
After processing, he was produced before the Lodwar Law Courts where the Court ordered that he be detained at the Central police Station in Lodwar pending arraignment before the Lodwar Anti-Corruption Magistrate, Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
“The mob that was earlier obstructing his arrest continued to cause commotion at the court premises seeking to rescue him,” EACC said.
He will be arraigned on Wednesday, November 30.
Wednesday, EACC, through Deputy CEO Abdi Mohamud, condemned the acts of the rowdy youth and warned leaders against mobilising supporters to cause chaos whenever they are summoned or arrested by EACC or other law enforcement agencies.
“It is an offence under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act to obstruct EACC from carrying out its mandate,” the Deputy CEO warned.
Mohamud said that EACC will investigate the obstruction incident for possible recommendation of further charges against the suspect.
The ex-CEC allegedly used fake academic credentials to land the CEC position, which prompted the EACC to open an investigation, according to the statement.
He represented himself as having a Chuka University bachelor’s degree in both economics and sociology.
He was then the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Infrastructure, Transport and Public Works for Turkana County Government,
Chuka University does not offer a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Sociology course.
The commission also claims that he forged a diploma in business administration that was allegedly obtained from Premise Africa Development Institute.
The EACC claims that despite his enrollment at the institute, there is no evidence that he ever showed up for or attended any classes or examinations.
The Office of Director of Public Prosecution approved the charges against the man.