Maika challenges appointment

 By CHARLES MOI 

THE National Intelligence Organisation’s former director, Bruno Maika, has gone to court to challenge the appointment of Gary Baki as its new head. 

Maika had filed an originating summons in the Waigani National Court on the basis that there was no proper National Executive Council decision made on the appointment of the new head of NIO and that no gazettal was issued to effect the appointment of Baki.

Presiding Judge Ambeng Kandakasi adjourned the matter to Dec 4 to allow Maika’s lawyer to verify the authenticity of the gazettal after it was produced in court by Baki’s lawyer. 

Kandakasi said there was nothing stopping Baki from assuming office as head of NIO, when replying to Baki’s lawyer’s submission that a prolonged adjournment of the matter would affect Baki. 

State lawyer Tauvasa Tanuvasa said there was a decision of the National Executive Council on Oct 9 that verified the appointment of Baki as head of NIO.

Tanuvasa said Maika should have come to court by way of judicial proceedings as he challenged the legality of the decision of NEC on the appointment of Baki. 

Baki is the former commissioner of police.