Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
July 2026
Informanté
Joas Neemwatyastatedthat evidence relied upon is in Arabic without translation
Source
“Neemwatya said that whilst he was provided with a discovery bundle of all the evidence the State seeks to use against Hangula, some of the evidence relied upon is in Arabic.”
Joas Neemwatyaconfirmedthe contents of Hangula's affidavit insofar as they relate to him via confirmatory affidavit
Source
“Hangula's application is supported by a confirmatory affidavit from his legal practitioner, Joas Neemwatya, who confirms the contents of the accused's affidavit insofar as they relate to him.”
Joas NeemwatyaisHangula's new legal representative
Source
“In a notice of motion, Hangula's new legal representative, Joas Neemwatya, is asking the High Court to dismiss an application by the State to have the matter heard "in camera" and further requests that evidence from the alleged Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent from the United States be given and heard in open court.”
Joas Neemwatyasaid he would bring an application to haveaccused persons released on bail
Source
“During court proceedings held on 24 June 2026, lawyer Joas Neemwatya, who represents accused number eight, Otniel Shuudifonya, also said that he would bring an application to have the court mero motu release the accused persons on bail, claiming that their fair trial rights have been compromised.”
Joas Neemwatyafiled a notice for leave to appeal that did not comply with requirementsset out in the Criminal Procedure Act
Source
“Shuudifonya's application to be allowed to appeal against a ruling that acting judge Marilize du Plessis delivered in January was struck off the roll after Du Plessis found that a notice for leave to appeal filed by Shuudifonya's defence lawyer, Joas Neemwatya, did not comply with requirements set out in the Criminal Procedure Act.”
Joas Neemwatyastated that the application's dismissal isa victory for the veterans
Source
“The veterans' lawyer, Joas Neemwatya, stated that although the legal standing of Swapo on the pavement ownership was not pronounced, it is still a victory for the veterans for the application's dismissal.”
Joas Neemwatyaintends to appealDu Plessis's ruling on the postponement application
Source
“One of the defence lawyers involved in the case, Joas Neemwatya, who is representing Otneel Shuudifonya, has informed the court that he intends to appeal against Du Plessis's ruling on the postponement application.”
Joas Neemwatyaraised a complaintabout insufficient consultation room availability at the facility
Source
“defence lawyer Joas Neemwatya, who is representing Otneel Shuudifonya, raised a complaint about the availability of consultation rooms at Windhoek Correctional Facility, where nine of the accused in the case are held in custody.”
High Court judge Hannelie Prinsloo has deferred a judgment on the State's application for a closed-door hearing in the trial of Jona Hangula, a 32-year-old accused of working with ISIS and Boko Haram to allegedly overthrow the Namibian government. The in-camera application will be decided by the trial judge once assigned to the case; the matter was postponed to 20 August 2026 pending translation of Arabic-language evidence documents.
High Court judge Hannelie Prinsloo has deferred a judgment on the State's application for a closed-door hearing in the trial of Jona Hangula, a 32-year-old accused of working with ISIS and Boko Haram to allegedly overthrow the Namibian government. The in-camera application will be decided by the trial judge once assigned to the case; the matter was postponed to 20 August 2026 pending translation of Arabic-language evidence documents.
Jona Hangula, accused under Namibia's Prevention and Combating of Terrorist and Proliferation Activities Act, has asked the High Court to reject the State's application for closed-door testimony from an alleged FBI agent, arguing it would breach his right to a fair trial. He proposes the witness testify remotely via Zoom or Teams in open court, with his family, friends, church members, and full legal team permitted to attend.
Terrorism-accused Jona Hangula has filed a motion opposing the prosecution's request to hear FBI agent testimony behind closed doors, arguing the proceedings should remain open to safeguard his constitutional right to a fair trial. Hangula proposes the witness testify remotely without video and requests that his family, friends, and entire legal team be allowed to attend.
Jona Hangula, 32, accused of working with ISIS and Boko Haram to overthrow the Namibian government, has filed a motion opposing the State's request for "in camera" (private) court proceedings. His legal representative is asking the High Court to dismiss the application for closed hearings and requests that evidence from an alleged FBI agent be presented in open court.
Former Justice Minister Sackeus Shanghala and co-accused James Hatuikulipi have filed a Supreme Court petition seeking the removal of Judge Marelize du Plessis from their fisheries and corruption trial, after she dismissed their recusal application in March 2026. A lawyer for another accused has also indicated plans to apply for bail release, citing compromised fair trial rights and inadequate consultation facilities.
An appeal filed by Fishrot accused Otneel Shuudifonya against a postponement ruling was struck off the High Court roll at Windhoek Correctional Facility after the acting judge found his notice for leave to appeal did not comply with Criminal Procedure Act requirements.
The Windhoek High Court has struck Swapo's urgent application to evict a group of people camping at the party's national headquarters since October last year off the court roll, with the judge finding it did not meet the requirements for an urgent hearing. The group, led by Matheus Nangolo, are demanding clarification about funds allegedly provided by the United Nations for the repatriation of Namibian exiles in 1989.
Windhoek High Court Judge Gabriel Komboni dismissed Swapo's urgent application to evict war veterans camping at its headquarters, ruling the application lacked urgency. The veterans, who have occupied the site since October 2025, are demanding payment of benefits from the 1989 liberation struggle that they say remains unresolved.
A defence lawyer representing one of ten accused in the Fishrot fraud and corruption trial has argued to the High Court that proceedings should continue while appeals against earlier rulings are pursued, citing delays since 2021 and the constitutional right to trial within a reasonable period. Other defence lawyers largely supported the argument, though one disagreed, and the judge is scheduled to hear further oral arguments on 24 April.
The Fishrot case has been postponed to 24 April 2026 as former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala pursues leave to appeal a ruling dismissing his request for Judge Marelize du Plessis to recuse herself. Ricardo Gustavo's lawyer argues the repeated delays infringe the accused's right to a speedy trial and violate constitutional rights.
Proceedings in the high-profile corruption trial of former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and others have stalled over a disagreement about which of two competing appeals applications should be heard first—a recusal challenge or a stay-of-proceedings request. The court has adjourned until 5 May 2026 to resolve the procedural impasse.
Acting judge Marilize du Plessis rejected an application by two accused in the Fishrot fraud and corruption case to recuse herself, finding that her factual observations about trial delays did not demonstrate bias and that her acquaintance with two state witnesses would not affect her impartiality.
A Windhoek magistrate has transferred the bail application of two suspects charged with the murder of Ondangwa Prosecutor Justine Shiweda to the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court, rejecting defence requests to withdraw charges despite similar charges being pursued in Ondangwa. A third accused police officer facing graft charges will have his case separated and return to court in March 2026.
Riddick Narib was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for the brutal murder of his five-year-old stepson Dantali Eiseb in Walvis Bay in January 2023. Narib admitted to repeatedly striking the boy with a brick and cutting him with a knife, and told the court he committed the act to hurt the boy's mother, with whom he was in a failed marriage.
A 33-year-old Walvis Bay resident was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment by High Court Judge Naomi Shivute for the brutal assault and killing of his five-year-old stepson in January 2023. Judge Shivute said the accused, who suspected the boy's mother of infidelity, had no right to commit murder and noted his subsequent torment of the mother through text messages compounded the crime.
Ricardo Gustavo's legal team says they will "oppose vehemently" an application by former attorney general Sacky Shanghala and co-accused James Hatuikulipi to have High Court judge Marilize du Plessis step down from the Fishrot fraud and corruption trial. Shanghala claims Du Plessis showed bias through remarks suggesting the accused were using delaying tactics, but the state is also opposing the recusal application, with arguments scheduled for 9 March.
Riddick Melchior /Narib has been found guilty of murdering five-year-old Dantali Wilfried Eiseb on 6 January 2023, after assaulting the child with a brick in the dunes of Narraville and burying him in a shallow grave. /Narib pleaded guilty to murder and to defeating the course of justice, and was convicted by High Court Judge Naomi Shivute.
Former Justice Minister Sackeus Shanghala has criticized the state's decision to pay prosecutors N$1.5 million in the Fishrot corruption case while denying similar funding to defence counsel, arguing it violates fair trial principles and creates unequal arms between prosecution and defence. The High Court has postponed the matter to 21 January 2026 for a ruling on the remuneration dispute and whether the trial should be postponed.