Osborne’s case adjourned after ministers’ lawyer withdraws

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 24th January 2012

By ANGELINE KARIUS
A CASE challenging in court the deportation of businessman Graham Osborne has been adjourned to tomorrow.
This is because lawyer Loani Henao, representing government ministers Jamie Maxtone-Graham and Ano Pala, informed the court that he would no longer be acting for them, on their instruction.
Osborne’s counsel, John Gawi agreed to have the matter adjourned.
Osborne was deported after being accused of meddling in local politics. But the court later ordered that he be allowed re-entry into the country to challenge the government’s decision against him in court.
When he returned on Jan 6, he was refused entry into the country by immigration officials at Jackson International Airport.
This is despite the court order allowing him to enter the country which was served twice on Immigration’s acting chief Joseph Nobetau. 
Osborne runs a restaurant in Port Moresby.
Presiding Judge George Manuhu has also ruled that the substantive matter be heard on January 30.
Meanwhile, Sir Arnold Amet is seeking to be a party to proceedings of the special reference filed by Dr Allan Marat in the Supreme Court.
He has been given two days to file his application in court.
The stay order taken out by Marat’s lawyer has also been adjourned to tomorrow.