Court in favour with Raminai’s uni appointments

By KARO JESSE
A COURT has ruled that the appointments made by the Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Wesley Raminai on the University of Goroka administration be followed.
Raminai last month appointed Joe Wemin as chancellor to replace Joseph Sukwianomb, Dr Teng Waninga as acting vice-chancellor to replace Professor Musawe Sinebare, and members of a new interim council to run the affairs of the university.
National Court judge Justice Nicholas Miviri yesterday rejected an application for a judicial review of Raminai’s decision filed by Sukwianomb.
The members of the ousted interim council were Sukwianomb, Dr Julian Kuman, Lawrence Titimur, Dr Alfred Tivinnarilik, Miri Setae, Taies Sansan, Leslie Hoffman, Steven Rere, Christopher Asa, Gayle Tatsi and Maria Kopkop.
Justice Miviri ruled that the application by Sukwianomb was in breach of National Court rules, which required that such application for judicial review “shall not be made unless the leave of the court has been obtained”.
“Leave has not being made out, and the proceedings are dismissed in its entirety,” he said.
Justice Miviri also rejected an interim injunction sought by Waninga to refrain the former office bearers from interfering with his work.
He said there were no evidence to support Waninga’s claims.
“Without the evidence, it is bare and does not advance his cause,” Justice Miviri said.
Raminai, who had appointed a new council on April 19, said Waninga could now proceed in his new role as acting vice-chancellor following the court decision.
Raminai urged university staff members, lecturers, students and parents to work with Waninga.
“For the last two weeks, (Waninga has been) running the university,” Raminai said.