THE Lusaka High Court has discontinued a case against the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), where a Lusaka resident, Celine Meena Nair, had sued the commission over a restriction notice placed on her property.
The restriction notice, which prevented the transfer or disposal of the property, was initially issued by the ACC on July 19, 2007, and inexplicably renewed on April 12, 2024.
Nair stated that the ACC never charged her with any offense nor provided any reasons for placing the restriction on her property.
She had sought a court order for the ACC to remove the restriction notice, along with costs and other related relief.
Nair argued that as a result of the restriction, she suffered losses, including the loss of use of her property and rental income since April 26, 2017.
In addition to suing the ACC, Nair also took legal action against Stardy Mwale, the former Ministry of Defence permanent secretary.
She claimed that Mwale defaulted on a K2.5 million purchase price for the same property.
According to Nair, she had agreed to sell the leasehold property, Stand 20440 Lusaka, to Mwale through a written contract on April 26, 2017.
Mwale took possession of the property on that date as a licensee but failed to pay the agreed-upon purchase price despite repeated requests.
The court issued a consent judgment ordering the ACC to cancel the restriction notice on Nair’s property (No. LUS/20440 of Lusaka) within three days of the judgment being signed.
“The matter against the second defendant be and is hereby discontinued.”
“This is full and final settlement of the matter herein and the plaintiff shall no further claims against ACC,” the court said.
This means Nair will have no further claims against the ACC regarding this matter.
The case against the second defendant, Mwale, was also discontinued.
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba, July 28, 2025
