Dispute over outstanding legal fees settled

A LONG-running dispute over outstanding legal fees between Higher Education Minister Pila Niningi and former Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa has been settled.
Both men agreed to reach a settlement on the payment of outstanding legal fees.
The settlement was signed between both parties, with Niningi paying Awesa a sum of K114,000 on Friday.
Niningi said he was relieved to see the conclusion of the matter and thanked Awesa for amicably resolving the issue.
The payment stems from Niningi’s 2012 election petition against Awesa, who was the sitting member at the time. The petition was dismissed with Niningi ordered to pay costs.
A judgment was reached in favour of Awesa on Nov 14, 2017, regarding EP No. 55 of 2012, for taxed costs to the sum of K164,902.49.
However, Niningi in return also filed six bills of costs for taxation totalling K84,596.42 for cost orders under the same proceedings for Awesa to pay him.
These costs were for successful applications by Niningi during the same proceedings such as changing the trial venue from Mendi to Mt Hagen and protecting witnesses from harassment, among others, where the court awarded the costs against Awesa.
Subsequent negotiations undertaken by both parties with their lawyers culminated in the signing of the deed of settlement and
release on Friday with Niningi agreeing to pay Awesa the sum of K114,000.
The Westpac Bankcheque made out to Awesa’s Lawyer Adam Ninkama was presented by Niningi’s lawyer on Friday afternoon.
Niningi commended the former MP for keeping him accountable to settle his debt over the prolonged period and with this now behind him, he can focus on the development of the electorate.