Former SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula who was convicted for falsely stating his address and obtaining more than $20,000 in parliamentary allowances has applied for constitutional redress to challenge the decision of the Chief Justice to transfer the matter to the High Court.
The Suva High Court has given the Office of the Attorney General and FICAC 21 days to file a response.
Lawyer from the Office of the Attorney General, Yovin Naidu and FICAC lawyer, Joseph Work both told the court that they are seeking for the matter to be dismissed as under the Constitution, an alternative recourse is before the Court of Appeal.
The matter has been adjourned to the 20th of March.
Nawaikula had falsely stated that his permanent place of residence was in Buca village, Buca Bay and obtained $20,201.35 in parliamentary allowances between August 2019 and April 2020.
He was convicted for one count of Giving False Information to a Public Servant and one count of Obtaining Financial Advantage.
Nawaikula was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment with one year suspended for 5 years in May 2022.
