Justice Minister urged to withdraw order on nulling controversial fee

By Awan Achiek

The Political Parties Council (PPC) is demanding Minister of Justice, Ruben Madol Arol to withdraw his order declaring a controversial registration fee of $75,000 for political parties ‘null and void’.

In March 2024, 14 opposition political parties including People’s United Forum (PUF) led by Gai Chol Paul and the National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Lam Akol Ajawin rejected the provisional registration fees of 50,000 U.S dollars and license fees of 25,000 dollars as requirement for full registration with the political parties’ council.

In April 2024, the parties filed a complaint to the justice minister through their lawyer Gabriel Kuot Akok Deng, challenging the legality of the registration fees imposed on them.

In May 2024, Ruben Madol Arol wrote a letter revoking the registration fees imposed on the political parties by the council.

In a swift response, the Chairperson of the PPC, James Akol Zakayo, rejected the order of justice minister.

Ruben Madol Arol, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs said the Chairperson of the PPC, James Akol Zakayo had written to his office last week challenging the order.

 “The chairperson of the political party’s council wrote to me requesting that I withdraw the legal advice based on a legal advice which he attached he had got from a private lawyer,” Madol said during parliamentary sitting on Monday.

Madol said he is yet to respond to the letter, adding that his legal advice can only be challenged before a court of law.

“That he had hired. Now, I am in the process of responding to that request through our legal processes. That’s the information I can give you on that,” he said.

He said if the institution concerned neglects to abide by his legal advice of the Ministry of Justice, they can seek legal avenues to challenge him.