By Jeremiah Ndjoze

Former presidential aide, John Nauta, will have to wait a while longer for the commencement of court proceedings in his purported case of defamation of character against erstwhile permanent secretary in the presidency, Dr Ndeutala Angolo and two media houses.

Lawyers representing Nauta told Confidente this week that the civil litigation is yet to be formalised, pending a thorough assessment of the alleged defamation claims. The matter is being handled by legal firm, ENS Namibia. 
“The claim is not yet instituted. We are still assessing the articles that were written against Mr. Nauta in respect to his claim for defamation. [As such] I am unable to tell you at this point, when court proceedings in relation to the matter will commence. We are considering all legal remedies for Mr. Nauta,” 

Ndinelao Kamati, an associate at the legal firm told this week. Confidente further learned that the matter is being ENS Namibia’s Charles Visser, who have instructed Adv. Reinhard Tötemeyer. 

This week, an irate Nauta did not mince words when he told Confidente that the subjects in his brewing civil suit will face the full extent of the law, following their failure to apologise.
"I am just sick and tired of Dr Selma Ndeutala Angolo's persistent false, defamatory and malicious allegations. It is time she comes to her senses and accept that she made a serious blunder by signing off those shares to Epia, 13 years ago while her intention was to benefit from it," Nauta said.

He lambasted the accused media houses, in his claim, of being obsessed with Nujoma and described their ‘personality’ driven reports as political witch-hunts.  
“The media is obsessed with my name used in reference to the late [Nujoma] for their own political hidden agenda and unfinished business with the late [Former President], but soon, justice will prevail,” Nauta said. 
“Their malicious and defamatory attacks should not have personalities of certain individuals but should have been on Epia Investment PTY Board that accepted the shares, if that was a crime. Fiducially, all directors account for mismanagement of the company funds or fraud but not selectively. The jungle justice of the newspaper that turned tabloid and online media as well as the frustrated former PS will face the hard reality. I am pleading with my lawyer to speed up the court hearing as I can no longer bear this repeated nasty, false, defamatory allegations done deliberately for media marketing. This is a political witch-hunt. They must let the late Nujoma to continue resting in peace and face the reality as presented.

Earlier on, Angolo told Confidente that she is not aware of the law suit as she is yet to be served with papers.

THE DISPUTE
The brewing legal battle stems from allegations in articles that were published by both The Namibian newspaper and The Issue, in which Nauta was purportedly painted as having been instrumental in a fraudulent transfer of the 20 percent shares belonging to the Indira Gandhi Health Centre Fund in Epia Investment Holdings to Tuapandula Investment, to the fiscal detriment of the Fund. The accusations are said to have been drawn from remarks that were made by Angolo. 
Through the law firm, ENS Namibia, Nauta maintained that the allegations are false, malicious and has caused significant harm to his reputation and standing.

Nauta stated that decisions to transfer company shares are made at Board level, and there is no way that he as an individual would influence the decision.
Confidente is in possession of a copy of minutes of an Indira Gandhi Health Centre Fund members meeting said to have been held on 16 November 2012, on a Round Robin Basis and duly constituted.

The meeting noted that; “The Company (Indira Gandhi Health Centre Fund) was granted shares in Epia Investment Holdings for the purpose of supporting the Indira Gandhi Health Centre. Since the said Health Centre was transferred to Government, the objective of supporting the Health Centre was ceased.” The meeting according to the document resolved that; “20 ordinary shares held in Epia Investment Holdings (PTY) Ltd, representing 20 percent of the issued share capital are transferred to Tuapandula Investments (PTY) Ltd at par value of N$20-00.

The minutes were allegedly signed by Angolo, former minister Kalumbi Shangula, late 
Dr Naftal Hamata, businessman John Kambwela, and coastal fishing magnate Jose Luis Bastos who were listed as trustees.  
Having acquired the Fund’s interest, Tuapandula Investments’s stake in Epia Investments increased to 40 percent. Tuapandula belongs to Nauta, businessman, Tjeripo Hijarunguru and the estate of the late Aron Mushimba. 
A criminal case CR256/06/2025 was opened with the Nampol, against Nauta and Hijarunguru, two months ago. 
Police spokesperson, Kauna Shikwambi told Confidente that the matter is still under investigation.