Not guilty, pleads ex-Malawi army general Odillo on Cashgate charges

Former army commander General Henry Odillo and three others on Thursday  appeared before the High Court of Malawi in Lilongwe where they took plea in a case related to dubious purchase of assorted military equipment but were never delivered in cashgate style scam.

Odillo and the other two; Leuitenant general Clement Kafuwa and businessman Ganiza Kamchomo pleaded not guilty to the case.

The other accused, a former accountant Alexander Kauwa Banda at the Malawi army was not available in court as he applied that he be tried in South Africa where he is based.

The plea of Odillo and the other two was delayed however after it was discovered that one of defense lawyers Ralph Mhone MP did not have a legal licence to practise.

However, Judge Redson Kapindu ruled that Mhone was free to give instructions to lincensed lawyers in his legal team although himself could not directly defend the clients.

Odillo was arrested and fired from his position after former president Joyce Banda and her Peoples Party administration were kicked out of government at the ballot box in 2014 when the Democratic Progressive Party was returned to power after two years of being outside the government following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

General Odillo, who gets all Malawi army commander salary and perks, now works for another government agency ADL.

Banda gave Odillo an award for protecting democracy after the DPP led by Peter Mutharika told the soldiers to take over the government following the sudden death of Bingu in a bid to thwart Banda from ascending to presidency as the Republican Constitution demands.

This is contained in a commission of inquiry report and Peter Mutharika, Goodall Gondwe, Henry Mussa, Bright Msaka, Patricia Kaliati and Kondwani Nankhumwa were arrested on treason charges for plotting to have soldiers take over the government but the case was struck off the case after Mutharika and his DPP returned into government forcing Banda into self exile.