Namah tenders evidence for leadership tribunal

VANIMO-Green MP Belden Namah has tendered his evidence for trial concerning a leadership tribunal’s recommendation to dismiss him as an MP.
Namah’s lawyer Greg Sheppard, of Young and Williams, yesterday, tendered five sets of affidavits on his behalf as evidence to rely on for trial in the National Court.
The court was also informed that Namah had filed a notice of motion raising constitutional issues regarding the conduct of the Ombudsman Commission (OC) and chief justice in the matter.
Namah is seeking the jurisdiction of the National Court to refer the questions to Supreme Court for proper interpretation.
Namah, through the motion, had raised issues of interpretation on the Organic Law on the duties and responsibilities of leadership.
In the crust of the motion, he wants to clarify whether the OC was obliged to make further reference to the public prosecutor in relation to its “deliberate judgement” that there was evidence of misconduct in office by him and whether it was proper for then chief justice Sir Salamo Injia to revoke the appointment of Poole Tribunal assigned to look into the matter and appoint another tribunal.
However, Justice David Cannings adjourned the hearing of the motion to next Wednesday, as defendants were served the motion on short notice.
As to the matter regarding the judicial review on tribunal’s recommendation, lawyers representing the State, the Ombudsman Commission, public prosecutor and leadership tribunal informed the court that they didn’t have evidence to tender.
It is understood that the State, with its statutory bodies will be relying on evidence filed earlier.
Namah was recommended for dismissal from duties when a tribunal on April 9, 2018, found that he was guilty of misconduct in office for storming a court room with police and defence force personnel to arrest the chief justice who was presiding cases.
On July 5, 2018, the National Court granted leave to Namah.