Former Minister of Justice Sakeus Shanghala, leveraging his extensive legal background, represented himself and his co-accused in the High Court before Judge Boas Usiku. 

It is highly unusual for an accused person to not only represent himself but also argue on behalf of others in a court of law. 

That being said, the court found the urgent application lacked the necessary urgency.

Shanghala, a lawyer by training and former chairperson of the Law Reform Commission, as well as a former attorney general and justice minister, sought to halt their relocation within the Windhoek Correctional Facility. However, Judge Usiku ruled that the application, aimed at preventing the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) from transferring the accused from the C-Section Unit to the Echo Unit, did not meet the criteria for urgency.

Justice Usiku found that the complaints raised by the applicants about the decision to relocate them are concerns of every trial-awaiting inmate who has been relocated from a single cell to a communal cell, and the same does not per se render the matter urgent.

Shanghala, along with co-accused James Hatuikulipi, Mike Nghipunya, Phillipus Mwapopi, Otneel Shuudifonya, Pius Mwatelulo, and Ricardo Gustavo, contended that their relocation would hinder their trial preparations and expose them to potential harm from other inmates.

Despite these arguments, the court concluded that the applicants did not demonstrate the absence of substantial redress if the matter followed normal court procedures. 

Judge Usiku asserts in his ruling that the averments that the decision to relocate will cause damage or that relocation will hamper the trial preparation effort of the applicants do not on their own render a matter urgent.

The court also dismissed allegations against Commissioner Ankur Kuthria of the NCS for harassment and tyrannical behaviour towards Shanghala.

The application was struck from the roll for lack of urgency, and the applicants were ordered to pay the costs incurred by the respondents, including those for instructing and instructing counsel.

The Fishrot scandal, one of Namibia's largest corruption cases, involves allegations of bribery and corruption within the country's fishing industry. 

The case continues to unfold, with the accused facing charges of fraud, money laundering, and racketeering.

Although the exact date has not been made known yet, the main case's trial is expected to commence in due course before Acting High Court Judge Moses Chinengu.

Shanghala and others remain residents of the Windhoek Correctional Facility.