Case awaits decision

The National National

By KARO JESSE
THE National Court in Waigani will hand down its decision tomorrow on whether to stay a decision suspending Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) managing director Ruel Yamuna.
The decision to suspend Yamuna was made by Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Wera Mori who subsequently appointed Jacob Ejinye, CCDA’s general manager of adaptation and special projects to act in the position.
Justice Nicholas Miviri yesterday heard submissions from lawyer Solomon Wanis representing Yamuna and lawyer Alex Maribu representing Mori.
Wanis sought to stay the minister’s decision pending a judicial review.
He told the court that a stay was needed to prevent an internal administration investigation from coinciding with the judicial review of the decision.
Maribu opposed the application on the grounds that the allegations levelled against Yamuna were serious and that it was better to keep him out of the office to allow a free and fair investigation. Maribu submitted that Yamuna was given the opportunity to respond to the allegations however, Mori was not satisfied with the response and suspended him.
He told the court that Yamuna was suspended on allegations in relation to the:

  • USE of K1 million REDD+ (reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) funding without National Executive Council’s approval;
  • UNATHORISED payments of outstanding legal bills to the widow of consultant lawyer late Kino Wange;
  • NON-AQUITALLS of travel allowances totalling K700,768.35 and cash advances of K45,000 (for November 2018 meeting in Bonne, Germany) and K80,000; and,
  • FAILURE to consult the minister on amendment of climate change (Management) Act 2015.

The court was told that one of the grounds for suspension was the failure to establish the National Climate Change Board therefore, Mori as the portfolio minister took the action for the overall control of the authority.