Tycoon Mohammad Allibhai has not honoured summons of Parliament’s committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to respond to allegations that he holds titles of more than 700 departed Asian properties since March.
As a result, the committee’s task force chaired by Makindye East MP Ibrahim Kasozi that is handling the matter wants him arrested. Alibhai has however through his lawyers said that he cannot appear before the committee because he fears to contract Covid-19.
The businessman’s lawyers of Ambrose Tebyasa & Co Advocates, have written to the committee saying their client cannot appear until the Covid-19 situation normalizes.
“Our client is in the age bracket of the most vulnerable to the pandemic and can only make cautious movements taking into his health,” the lawyers’ letter dated June 19, reads in part.
The lawyers added that he is out of the country and cannot return until the Ugandan borders and those of his current location are re-opened. They also said that he has never received the committee’s summons and a warrant of arrest.
Alibhai’s lawyers also asked the MPs to stop depicting their client as a “criminal” because he is a law-abiding citizen who has previously appeared before the same taskforce to testify on the matters last year.
While testifying on oath, the businessman said he manages more than 400 properties on behalf of expropriated Asians under his company, Alderbridge Management and Real Estates Ltd. MPs then tasked him to return with documentary evidence, including powers of attorney, management contracts, rental income remittance receipts and sale agreements for those that he claimed he had been permitted to sell, but he is yet to re-appear