A trial date has been scheduled for former Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) member Niko Nawaikula.
Nawaikula has initiated a lawsuit against the former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem, and the Office of the Attorney-General, alleging unlawful and negligent actions that led to his dismissal from Parliament. His removal occurred in August 2021 when he was found to be using a name not listed on his birth certificate. While his birth certificate identifies him as Nikolau Tuiqamea, he had been using Niko Nawaikula in parliamentary sessions.
The matter was previously addressed by former Chief Justice Kamal Kumar, who concluded that no issues were found in the initial dismissal. Following this, Nawaikula opted to pursue legal action against the officials for the alleged negligence and illegality surrounding his removal.
During a recent appearance before Justice Usaia Ratuvili at the High Court in Suva, Nawaikula was represented by his newly appointed lawyer, Sevuloni Valenitabua. The court proceedings included Valenitabua confirming that they had received the necessary documents from the defense and were prepared to set a hearing date. He also mentioned that only one witness would be called to testify.
After both parties indicated that there were no further matters to discuss, the court adjourned the case, now set for trial from April 28 to April 30, 2025.