Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube has questioned the competence of the Government’s legal advisers following the High Court decision concerning the Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali.
Narube says the coalition Government has committed “many legal blunders” in its three years in office, with the COI being the costliest.
He maintains that establishing the inquiry was the right decision, saying it appeared to many that Malimali’s appointment was being rushed to stop investigations and possible prosecution of senior Cabinet members.
However, Narube acknowledges that due process and natural justice must be followed.
He says the inquiry, after receiving sworn statements, identified 10 individuals described by the Commissioner as “crocodiles” within the coalition Government.
“I do not believe that there is any value in shooting the messenger. The Commissioner and his team have done their job of revealing the crocodiles,” Narube says.
According to Narube, the High Court ruling highlighted two key legal issues—the powers and authority given to the COI and the processes used by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to implement its recommendations.
“These two technical legal issues should have been known by any competent legal adviser to the PM,” he says.
Narube questions whether the Prime Minister received appropriate legal advice and whether that advice was followed.
“The burning question in everyone’s lips now is: what will the PM do in response to the High Court ruling?” he says.
He says the Government’s next steps will depend on the quality of legal advice it receives.
“Clearly, based on what we have seen up to now, the PM’s legal advisers appeared not to be competent.”
Narube has urged the Government to continue investigating alleged corruption and exposing wrongdoing.
