Manumanu inquiry on

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By MALUM NALU
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday announced the immediate establishment of an “administrative inquiry” to be headed by an administrator, rather than a commission-of-inquiry headed by a judge, to probe into the controversial Manumanu land deal.
He told a press conference that the National Executive Council  (NEC)met yesterday morning where the importance of the inquiry, to be established at a cost of K2 million, was discussed.
The inquiry begins its work today.
O’Neill said after seeking legal advice, in light of there being an ongoing matter before the Supreme Court involving Western provincial government and Posaman Kua Lawyers against the Government and the NEC on commissions of inquiry, a commission of inquiry headed by a judge could not be set up.
“That is why the NEC has decided that we will have an inquiry that is administrative in nature, but the principles of accountability, transparency and all the other investigative requirements will be conducted by a leading legal professional,” he said.
“The NEC today appointed John Griffin, a Queen’s Counsel of the Queensland Bar, to inquire into the five land transactions for this inquiry.
“Griffin is a leading lawyer, well-experienced, highly-qualified and he is well-versed with the laws of our country.” The prime minister said the appointment would not prevent the ongoing investigations that were now before the Police Fraud Squad, Ombudsman Commission and Department of Personnel Management (DPM).
“This inquiry will look into the role of relevant ministers, the role of departmental heads and their officers, and heads of various State-owned enterprises,” the prime minister  said.
“It will look at role of management of these organisations, role of valuer-general in terms of the value of land that was purchased.
“Recommendations of this particular inquiry will be made to Cabinet within four weeks – that is to
try and ensure that we report to Parliament on the findings of the inquiry.
“We will work closely with other Government agencies in making sure that this particular matter – that has been of public interest – must be treated in fair and transparent manner.
“I assure the nation that we will ensure that this particular matter
is tabled in Parliament, as it was raised in Parliament during question time and it is only fair that we do so.”
O’Neill appealed to all citizens and parties that “we must have respect for the rule of law and that due process needs to take place”.
“It is important that people are
innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
“The institutions of Government and our law-enforcement bodies are already making their own inquiries and investigations.”
O’Neill said he looked forward to the report being tabled in the
next session of Parliament on March 28.
He said the suspended ministers and departmental heads would remain so until the inquiry report was given to the National Executive Council and Parliament.