The Fiji Sports Council (FSC) has ordered a focused probe into allegations that a rental arrangement at the National Hockey Centre represents a conflict of interest involving the brother of its suspended chief executive officer, Gilbert Vakalalabure. A whistleblower has told the council that the Rokoika & Vakalalabure law firm is occupying office space at the centre without paying rent directly to the FSC, with the agreed rental amount instead being deducted from Mr Vakalalabure’s salary.
The law firm in question is owned by Tevita Vakalalabure, who is the brother of the suspended CEO. The whistleblower’s claim, if substantiated, would raise questions about whether Mr Gilbert Vakalalabure authorised or benefited from an arrangement that diverted council revenue and whether proper governance and conflict-of-interest safeguards were followed.
FSC board chairman Peter Mazey confirmed the board has directed an investigation into the new allegations and that the team already examining other claims against Gilbert Vakalalabure will take them on. “All I can say at this stage is that we have directed an investigation into these allegations,” Mr Mazey told this newspaper. He described the work as extensive and said the media have been provided with the investigating team’s terms of reference.
The same investigative firm handling the broader case involving the suspended CEO is reported to be in the final week of its inquiry. FSC officials have not disclosed further details about the scope of the new rental-related enquiries, how long the whistleblower alleges the arrangement has been in place, or whether any interim measures — such as freezing deductions or vacating the space — have been taken pending the outcome.
The allegations add to wider concerns about governance and transparency in public-sector bodies that manage national facilities. Independent oversight and clear procurement and tenancy arrangements are typically expected for state-owned venues; any finding that a senior official used their position to secure preferential treatment for a relative’s private business would likely prompt administrative or legal action. The FSC has previously faced scrutiny over its management decisions, and this development intensifies focus on its internal controls.
No public response from Rokoika & Vakalalabure or from Gilbert or Tevita Vakalalabure has been reported. The FSC has indicated it will consider the investigation team’s findings once the final report is delivered in the coming days, and any recommendations for disciplinary, contractual or legal follow-up will be made public at that time.
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