Cabinet in dark over Ramatlap case

By ANGELINE KARIUS

THE National Executive Council has not been notified of a court order to reinstate first legislative counsel Hudson Ramatlap, the National Court was told yesterday.State lawyer Tiffany Twivey told the court that the State had not been given sufficient time to prepare its case.Twivey had filed to set aside the leave granted and interlocutory orders issued by presiding judge George Manuhu effecting the reinstatement of Ramatlap as the first legislative counsel – effective from Jan 19.Ramatlap had filed an ex-parte application without the state’s presence on Jan 19, when his leave was granted.He had sought the court orders after he was replaced by Vela Konivaro after last month’s decision by the O’Neill-led government to suspend him.His lawyer Rimbink Pato maintained his position.Manuhu will make a ruling on the matter tomorrow.Last Thursday Manuhu ruled that Ramatlap "is to remain as duly appointed first legislative counsel and to undertake all duties and perform all functions and be entitled to all benefits that the position entails".He ordered that Konivaro "be restrained from acting in the position of or holding himself out as the first legislative counsel".Defendants in the case are Dr Allan Marat, the Attorney-General, on behalf of Sir Michael Ogio the Governor-General, the national executive council, Konivaro and the government.Meanwhile, the court case challenging the deportation of New Zealander Graham Osborne has been further adjourned to next Monday.